Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed to the European Union for support to tackle maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
Receiving the delegation of the EU Evaluation Mission led by Ms Stéphanie Vergniault, the Nigerian minister identified illegal fishing, trafficking and environmental crimes as major concerns requiring urgent and coordinated international response.
According to the statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, on Thursday in Lagos, Mr. Oyetola said that evolving regional security challenges demanded stronger international partnerships.
“We must deepen collaboration to effectively respond to emerging maritime threats across the Gulf of Guinea,” the minister said.
Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, calling it vital for cooperation and intelligence exchange.
He said EU-backed interventions, including GoGIN II, had strengthened maritime awareness and improved collaboration among regional agencies.
The minister highlighted the YARIS information-sharing system as key to improving coordination among maritime stakeholders.
He stressed the need to sustain and optimise its operational use for long-term effectiveness.
Oyetola also underscored the importance of improving interoperability between regional centres and national institutions.
He called for continued capacity building and technical support to strengthen maritime security systems.
The minister cited the Deep Blue Project as contributing to reduced piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years.
“This progress shows the value of combining national ownership with regional and international support,” he said.
As GoGIN II nears completion, Oyetola urged stakeholders to consolidate its achievements and ensure sustainability.
He stressed that maintaining these gains is crucial for securing maritime activities and boosting regional economic growth.
Earlier, Ms Vergniault, said that the visit was part of an independent assessment of the EU-funded GoGIN II project.
She noted that the initiative supports maritime coordination and information sharing across countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
Vergniault said the evaluation was aimed at assessing performance, results and sustainability of the programme.
She said that it would also identify lessons to guide future maritime security initiatives.
Vergniault explained that the mission was engaging stakeholders in Nigeria to gather feedback on the YARIS platform and that the review was focusing on coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture and prevailing maritime sector challenges.
GIK/APA