Nigeria has expressed readiness to leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) to intensify efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strengthen the sustainable management of its marine resources.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja.

The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Nigeria and the European Union on maritime security, ocean governance and the sustainable development of marine resources.

Oyetola described illegal fishing as a major threat to Nigeria’s marine ecosystem and coastal livelihoods, warning that the practice continues to deplete fish stocks, undermine food security and weaken the economic wellbeing of communities that depend on fishing activities.

According to the minister, IUU fishing poses broader risks beyond environmental degradation, affecting national security and economic stability.

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated 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.

He stressed the need for stronger international collaboration, backed by enhanced monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, to curb illegal fishing activities and protect the country’s territorial waters.

Welcoming the EU envoy, Oyetola commended the European Union for its sustained partnership with Nigeria, particularly its support for maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea, which remains a strategic corridor for global shipping and regional trade.

The minister noted that the WASOP initiative presents a significant opportunity for countries in the region to strengthen coordinated action against illegal fishing, improve ocean governance and promote the sustainable utilisation of marine resources.

He said Nigeria was prepared to actively participate in the programme to attract technical and financial support aimed at enhancing enforcement capabilities and advancing the country’s blue economy agenda.

Oyetola also highlighted ongoing reforms under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which seeks to drive innovation, encourage private sector investment and ensure sustainable exploitation of ocean resources.

He cited improvements in port operations, logistics and maritime security, while noting that efforts were underway to expand maritime infrastructure and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.

The minister further called for broader cooperation beyond anti-piracy initiatives, urging development partners to support Nigeria in tackling environmental crimes, human trafficking and illegal fishing through a more integrated approach.

He specifically sought increased technical assistance from the European Union in areas such as surveillance technology, fisheries monitoring and enforcement systems to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat illegal fishing across the Gulf of Guinea.

In his remarks, 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 said the WASOP initiative, funded by the EU, was designed to promote integrated ocean governance, sustainable fisheries management and the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems across West Africa.

According to the ambassador, the programme will support improved coordination among coastal states, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the region

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is deepening its investment in human capital and institutional development, with Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, pledging renewed support for research, ICT infrastructure and student-focused projects at Yakubu Gowon University.

Adeniyi made the commitment on Tuesday at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hakeem Fawehinmi, alongside other principal officers during a courtesy visit focused on expanding institutional collaboration.

The Customs boss said the Service was prepared to revive and strengthen a long-standing partnership with the university through targeted interventions capable of delivering measurable impact in education, border management studies and national development.

Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi recalled that discussions to formalise collaboration between both institutions dated back several years when he served as Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College.

He said: “I have a long institutional history with this university. During my tenure as Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, we made serious efforts to formalise a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding. We went very far in the process and were close to signing, but leadership changes on both sides affected the process.”

Despite the delay in formalising the agreement, the CGC noted that the Service had sustained support for the institution through several interventions designed to improve learning conditions and digital access.

“At different times, we supported the university with transportation facilities, including the provision of a 32-seater bus. We also established a fully equipped computer centre with close to one hundred workstations. These were deliberate efforts aimed at building lasting institutional partnerships,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs helmsman stressed that the Service was more interested in projects with direct and sustainable impact on students and the academic environment.

“For us, beyond legacy, what matters most is impact. We understand the realities facing Nigerian universities, from transportation challenges to infrastructure gaps. Our interest is to support initiatives that will create a conducive learning environment and positively impact students,” he said.

Adeniyi further explained that the Service was willing to adopt a phased implementation strategy in executing identified projects where necessary.

“If there are multiple projects and we are unable to execute everything at once, we can adopt a phased approach and focus on priority areas that will make the greatest difference,” he added.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening the profile of the Federal Capital Territory’s premier public university, noting that the institution should reflect Abuja’s national status.

“It is important for us to have a university in Abuja that truly reflects the status of Nigeria’s capital. I am willing to work with you in that regard,” the CGC noted.

Earlier, Fawehinmi commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi, describing the agency as a critical institution supporting the Federal Government’s economic and governance reforms.

He explained that the university’s growing student population and operational demands had made strategic partnerships increasingly important, especially in areas relating to transportation, ICT infrastructure and research support.

“We have come with the highest level of leadership of the university to congratulate you and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Nigeria Customs Service under your leadership.

“As the only conventional public university in the Federal Capital Territory, we face enormous responsibilities. Support in areas such as mass transit buses, ICT infrastructure, research facilities, and professional collaboration will significantly strengthen our capacity,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor also identified the university’s Centre for Defence and Migration Studies as a potential platform for collaboration with the Customs Service in border management, migration studies, executive training and national security research.

“We are ready to partner with the Nigeria Customs Service. The real beneficiaries of such collaboration will be young Nigerians who represent the future leadership of this country,” he added.

The country’s port system is being repositioned as the engine room of a new blue economy strategy aimed at unlocking investment, boosting trade competitiveness and reversing its underperformance in regional cargo traffic, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said.

Speaking at the Blue Economy Investment Summit in Abuja, Managing Director of the authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, declared that ongoing reforms and increasing private sector participation are positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s blue economy growth, with ports expected to play a central role in driving the shift.

Dantsoho, however, highlighted a critical imbalance that underscores the urgency of reform: Nigeria currently handles only about 25 per cent of West Africa’s cargo traffic despite accounting for more than 60 per cent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“This clearly shows that we have not fully optimised our potential,” he said.

He stressed that the Federal Government’s reform agenda, being driven through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is designed to reverse this trend by modernising port infrastructure, improving efficiency and aligning operations with global maritime standards.

“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources. Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth,” Dantsoho said.

The NPA boss positioned the reform programme as a strategic play to attract investment and deepen Nigeria’s competitiveness in global shipping. Key initiatives include port modernisation, deployment of a Trade Single Window, implementation of a Port Community System, development of deep seaports and full digitalisation of port operations.

“This is to reposition our ports for global competitiveness,” he added.

He emphasised that private capital will be critical to bridging infrastructure gaps, noting that the authority is actively promoting project financing models to accelerate delivery and improve operational efficiency.

“We are open to private sector participation through project financing. This approach is already improving efficiency and providing access to funding for critical infrastructure,” Dantsoho said.

According to him, the reforms are expected to deliver measurable commercial outcomes across the maritime value chain, including improved liner connectivity, the attraction of larger vessels, reduced freight costs and expansion of Nigeria’s non-oil export base.

“The ultimate goal is to improve liner connectivity, attract bigger vessels, reduce freight costs, and expand our export base, which will significantly boost revenue generation.

“Competitiveness in the global maritime industry requires efficient operations, competitive pricing and strong hinterland connectivity.

“Nigerian ports must remain adaptive to evolving global shipping trends. With sustained commitment to these initiatives, Nigeria’s port system will enter a new phase and emerge as a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa,” he said.

Dantsoho also pointed to Nigeria’s inherent structural advantages, including its strategic geographic position, large domestic market and economic scale, as factors that could support its ambition to become a regional maritime hub comparable to established global centres.

“By virtue of our strategic location, market size and economic strength, Nigeria is well-positioned to function as the maritime hub for West Africa,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, reinforced the investment case for the sector, citing the country’s expansive coastline and inland waterways network as key assets.

He noted that Nigeria’s more than 823-kilometre coastline and its location along the Gulf of Guinea provide a natural advantage for maritime trade and logistics, while recent reforms have strengthened institutional coordination, enhanced maritime security and boosted investor confidence.

Oyetola added that the maritime sector already accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade by volume, underscoring its central role in the country’s economic architecture and the urgency of fully unlocking its blue economy potential.