The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for deeper collaboration with the European Union (EU) to address emerging maritime threats, particularly illegal fishing, trafficking and environmental crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.Speaking in Abuja yesterday while receiving a delegation from the European Union Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project, Oyetola said evolving security challenges in the region require a broader, more integrated and sustained response anchored on strong international partnerships.The delegation, led by Ms Stéphanie Vergniault, is in Nigeria as part of an independent assessment of the EU-funded initiative, which supports maritime coordination and information sharing across the Gulf of Guinea
Oyetola reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a vital platform for regional cooperation, collective response and intelligence exchange. He noted that EU-backed interventions such as GoGIN II have played an important role in strengthening this framework, particularly by enhancing maritime domain awareness and facilitating closer collaboration among national and regional agencies.
He acknowledged the impact of the YARIS information-sharing system in improving coordination among maritime stakeholders, while stressing the need to sustain and optimise its operational use. He also highlighted the importance of improving interoperability between regional centres and national institutions, alongside continued capacity building and technical support Pointing to Nigeria’s efforts, Oyetola cited the success of the Deep Blue Project, which has contributed to a significant reduction in piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years