Nigeria has announced its readiness to leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) as part of intensified efforts to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, while strengthening sustainable management of its marine resources.
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Bolaji Akinola, disclosed this in a statement obtained on Sunday.
According to the statement, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the commitment in Abuja during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot.
The meeting highlighted renewed cooperation between Nigeria and the European Union on maritime security and sustainable ocean governance, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea, a strategic corridor for global shipping and regional economic activity.
Oyetola commended the European Union for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, noting its support for maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea. He described WASOP as a timely intervention capable of strengthening coordinated action against illegal fishing, improving ocean governance, and promoting sustainable exploitation of marine resources across West Africa.
The programme is expected to enhance regional collaboration, enforcement capacity, and long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems, which remain vital to coastal economies across the subregion.
