Dare Babalola
The Federal Government has renewed its push for stronger European Union involvement in tackling emerging maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, warning that illegal fishing, trafficking and environmental crimes are becoming as critical as piracy in the region.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja while hosting an EU Evaluation Mission reviewing the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project.
He said the changing nature of maritime insecurity demands a shift from isolated interventions to a more coordinated and sustained international response.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the European Union Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project, Dr. Oyetola emphasised that evolving security challenges in the region require a broader, more integrated and sustained response anchored on strong international partnerships.
The delegation, led by 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.
While highlighting Nigeria’s position, the minister pointed to the importance of strengthening existing regional frameworks rather than creating new ones.
Dr. 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.
Beyond security, Oyetola stressed the need to deepen the use of shared intelligence systems to tackle transnational crimes more effectively.
The Minister 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.
He further cited Nigeria’s domestic investments in maritime security as proof that coordinated strategies can deliver results.
Pointing to Nigeria’s own efforts, Dr. 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.
He said the progress recorded demonstrates the effectiveness of combining national ownership with regional and international support.
With the GoGIN II programme approaching its end, the minister warned against losing momentum, urging stakeholders to prioritise sustainability.
As the GoGIN II programme nears completion, the Minister urged stakeholders to focus on consolidating its achievements and ensuring long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership mechanisms.
He stressed that maintaining the gains recorded would be critical to securing the maritime domain and supporting economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea.
On the EU side, the mission said its review would shape the future of maritime cooperation in the region.
Earlier, Ms Vergniault explained that the evaluation seeks to assess the programme’s performance, operational results and sustainability, while identifying lessons that could shape future maritime security initiatives.
She noted that the mission, which also includes Captain Alioune Diop, is engaging key stakeholders in Nigeria to gather operational feedback on the use of the YARIS platform, the programme’s contribution to coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture, and the prevailing challenges in the maritime sector.
