Blue Economy
Nigeria Eyes WTO Fish Fund to Boost Maritime Security, Protect Small-Scale Fishers — Kalu
Nigeria Eyes WTO Fish Fund to Boost Maritime Security, Protect Small-Scale Fishers — Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies while calling for strategic deployment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Fish Fund to strengthen the country’s maritime protection capabilities.
Speaking at the 55th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO (PCWTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Kalu emphasised that Nigeria—as the second African nation to ratify the fisheries agreement—is positioned to leverage the fund as a vital tool for enhancing small-scale fishers’ livelihoods and combating illegal fishing activities.
The Deputy Speaker stressed that Nigeria’s domestic fish subsidies already focus on beneficial programmes supporting small-scale fishers and aquaculture development. However, he argued that the WTO Fish Fund must function as more than a technical assistance mechanism.
“For the WTO Fish Fund to be effective in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, it must be more than a technical assistance fund—it must be a strategic investment vehicle,” Kalu said during the conference at the Inter-Parliamentary Union headquarters.
He raised critical questions about the fund’s deployment, particularly regarding speed, scale, and focus required to deliver tangible results in vulnerable regions like West Africa. Kalu also sought assurances that bureaucratic processes would not hinder the fund’s effectiveness in protecting Nigerian waters and securing livelihoods.
“How will you ensure that the Fish Fund is deployed with the speed, scale, and focus required to deliver tangible results for highly vulnerable regions like West Africa, particularly Nigeria?” Kalu asked WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the session.
The Deputy Speaker emphasised that streamlined, bureaucracy-free processes are essential to translate the agreement’s promises into protected waters and secure livelihoods for Nigerian fishing communities.
Beyond fisheries, Kalu addressed the broader theme of “Promoting Multilateralism through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments,” commending the WTO’s inclusive approach under Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership.
He proposed several initiatives to enhance parliamentary engagement in global trade discussions:
Model Digital Trade Legislative Toolkit: Kalu suggested partnering with UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre to develop practical templates for developing country parliaments to craft pro-development digital economy laws.
PCWTO Africa Caucus: The Deputy Speaker proposed creating an African parliamentary caucus to coordinate positions before major WTO events, transforming the PCWTO from a discussion forum into a platform for coordinated political action.
Regional Parliamentary Integration: He advocated for formalising relationships between the PCWTO and regional bodies like ECOWAS and Pan-African Parliament to ensure policy coherence between continental integration efforts and global trade rules.
Kalu further proposed implementing a tracking system where PCWTO members report on how they implement conference outcomes in their national parliaments through committee hearings, legislative questions, or new legislation.
The Deputy Speaker noted the increased focus on Africa-centric sessions at this year’s forum, including discussions on unlocking Africa’s trade potential and exploring climate-resilient trade for the continent, calling it “a crucial step forward” in ensuring African perspectives shape global trade discourse.
Nigeria’s proactive stance on the fisheries agreement reflects the country’s broader commitment to multilateral cooperation and sustainable maritime resource management, positioning it as a key player in West African fisheries protection efforts.