Nigeria's government reaches out to European Union for assistance in combating piracy and unlawful fishing activities in the Gulf of Guinea region.

The Federal Government is seeking to bolster its partnership with the European Union to combat the escalating issue of illegal fishing and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.

n

This call for collaboration was made by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, during a meeting with a delegation from the EU Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network Project in Abuja on Thursday.

n

Oyetola underscored the need for a unified and sustained approach to tackle the rising threats of illegal fishing, trafficking, and environmental crimes through robust international partnerships and cooperation.

n

According to Oyetola, the security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea necessitate deeper cooperation between Nigeria and its partners, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing and maritime surveillance.

n

The EU delegation, led by Stéphanie Vergniault, is conducting an independent assessment of the EU-funded GoGIN II initiative, which aims to facilitate maritime coordination and information sharing across the region.

n

Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a vital platform for regional cooperation, collective response, and intelligence exchange.

n

The minister praised the YARIS information-sharing system for enhancing coordination among maritime stakeholders and emphasized the need to sustain and optimize its use.

n

Oyetola also highlighted the success of Nigeria's Deep Blue Project in reducing piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years, demonstrating the impact of combining national initiatives with regional and international support.

n

As the GoGIN II programme nears completion, Oyetola urged stakeholders to consolidate its gains, strengthen regional ownership, and ensure sustainability to secure the maritime domain and boost economic activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

n

Vergniault explained that the mission is evaluating the programme's performance, outcomes, and sustainability, while gathering feedback from stakeholders on the YARIS platform and ongoing challenges in the maritime sector.