Oyetola Visits Ghana to Deepen Cooperation on Fisheries Governance, Vessel Authorisation
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday visited Ghana to strengthen bilateral cooperation on fisheries governance and the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
According to his Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola met with Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur, in Accra.
During the meeting, the Minister described IUU fishing as a shared threat to food security, revenue and coastal livelihoods, stressing the need for stronger coordination between both countries.
He said closer collaboration would strengthen the regional response to illegal fishing and ensure sustainable management of shared resources.
Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s pilot implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels as a practical tool for cooperation, especially in verifying vessel authorisations and exchanging information through the FCWC framework.
He proposed that technical teams from both countries work together to identify discrepancies in vessel records and establish procedures for resolving them to improve transparency and compliance.
“Our shared interest is to protect fisheries resources, expand sustainable production and strengthen the livelihoods of our people. Nigeria remains committed to working with Ghana towards these objectives,” the Minister said.
In her remarks, Hon. Emelia Arthur commended Nigeria’s efforts in combating piracy and its progress in the blue economy sector. She reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to fighting IUU fishing and pledged full cooperation.
She disclosed that Ghana has developed its own Marine and Blue Economy policy and sought Nigeria’s support in sharing knowledge and experience.
As part of his engagements, Oyetola, who is President of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), also visited the FCWC Secretariat and the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre in Tema, where he met with Secretary-General Dr. Antoine Djihinto and staff.
He commended the Secretariat for its achievements over the past year and reiterated his commitment to working with member states to eliminate IUU fishing in the subregion.
The FCWC comprises Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo, and provides a framework for regional cooperation in fisheries management and maritime security.
