Blue Economy
Oyetola Takes Nigeria’s Blue Economy Drive to Monrovia, Rallies West Africa on Fisheries Investment and Regional Unity
Oyetola Takes Nigeria’s Blue Economy Drive to Monrovia, Rallies West Africa on Fisheries Investment and Regional Unity
By Emetena Ikuku, Waterways News Correspondent, Lagos
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has mounted a strong push for West and Central African nations to deepen regional cooperation and scale up investment in fisheries and aquaculture, warning that no single country can win the fight against illegal fishing on its own.
Oyetola made the call in Monrovia, Liberia, on Monday, where he addressed the National Fisheries Investment Conference held from March 30 to 31, 2026. The high-level gathering, declared open by Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, brought together ministers responsible for fisheries and aquaculture from across the subregion.
Speaking in his dual capacity as Nigeria’s minister and Chairman of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Oyetola described the conference as a critical opportunity to unlock the enormous potential of the blue economy. He noted that millions of people across the region depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods, with fish remaining one of the most accessible and affordable sources of protein.
However, he was candid about the headwinds facing the sector. Declining fish stocks, poor infrastructure, limited access to finance, and inadequate technology continue to hobble progress, he said, stressing that sustainable management of oceans, rivers and coastal ecosystems must be the foundation of any meaningful advance.
On Nigeria’s domestic front, the minister said the Tinubu administration is actively repositioning fisheries and aquaculture as pillars of the country’s blue economy. Policies to boost local production, reduce fish imports and tighten regulation are already bearing fruit, he noted, pointing to Nigeria’s uninterrupted access to international markets for shrimp exports as evidence of the reforms taking hold.
Oyetola also highlighted Nigeria’s wider maritime gains — including steps to tackle marine pollution, upgrade port infrastructure and improve security on the Gulf of Guinea. He said the country’s recent record of zero piracy incidents has significantly improved investor confidence across the region.
Turning to investment, the minister urged stakeholders to channel funding across the full fisheries value chain — from aquaculture and processing to cold-chain logistics and export development — arguing that a well-supported sector could create thousands of jobs, especially for young people.
On regional cooperation, he was emphatic: fish stocks respect no borders, and only collective action through bodies like the FCWC can effectively combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He reaffirmed the FCWC’s commitment to joint patrols, a regional vessel register, shared intelligence systems and harmonised fisheries policies designed to improve governance and attract investment across member states.