Nigeria Seeks €59m EU Support to Tackle Illegal Fishing, Boost Blue Economy
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed readiness to leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) to strengthen the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and advance the sustainable management of Nigeria’s marine resources.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during a when he received in audience meeting, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, in Abuja. In the meeting both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.
Oyetola commended the European Union for its longstanding support to Nigeria, particularly in promoting maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea, a region regarded as strategic to global shipping and regional economic growth.
He described the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme as a critical opportunity to strengthen coordinated efforts against illegal fishing, improve ocean governance and promote the sustainable exploitation of marine resources across West Africa.
According to the minister, Nigeria is eager to fully engage with the programme in order to attract technical and financial support that will enhance enforcement capacity and accelerate the country’s blue economy agenda.
Oyetola noted that illegal fishing continues to pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and coastal communities, warning that the practice contributes to the depletion of fish stocks, undermines food security and weakens the economic wellbeing of people who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods.
“IUU fishing is a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty and the survival of our coastal communities. We cannot afford to stand by and watch our marine ecosystems depleted and economic livelihoods eroded,” he said.
The minister called for stronger international collaboration, backed by enhanced monitoring systems and effective enforcement mechanisms, to dismantle illegal fishing networks and protect the country’s waters.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which focuses on innovation, private sector participation and the sustainable development of ocean resources.
Oyetola pointed to recent improvements in port operations, logistics and maritime security, adding that the government is intensifying efforts to expand maritime infrastructure and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
The minister further urged development partners to broaden support beyond anti-piracy initiatives by assisting Nigeria in tackling environmental crimes, human trafficking and illegal fishing through a coordinated approach.
He specifically requested increased technical assistance from the European Union in the areas of surveillance technology, fisheries monitoring and enforcement capacity to help curb illegal fishing activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with Nigeria and supporting regional efforts aimed at ensuring safer and more sustainable oceans.
He highlighted WASOP as a major EU-funded initiative designed to promote integrated ocean governance, sustainable fisheries management and the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems across West Africa.
The envoy said the programme will improve coordination among coastal states, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and foster a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy across the region.
The meeting underscored the growing partnership between Nigeria and the European Union in addressing maritime challenges while unlocking the economic potential of the blue economy sector.
Cover Photo Caption, L-R: Programme Manager, West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), Temitayo Omole; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot; Head of Cooperation of EU Delegation to Nigeria, Massimo De Luca; and Programme Manager, Yakubu Ogwuche, when the EU Ambassador visited the Minister in his office in Abuja on Thursday.
