President Bola Tinubu has urged the swift ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and a substantial increase in funding for blue economy initiatives to protect and sustainably manage the world’s oceans.
Speaking on Tinubu’s behalf at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed the urgent need for global collective action to safeguard ocean health for future generations.
The conference, attended by representatives from over 120 member states, is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme: “Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.”
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s recognition of the ocean as a rich source of natural capital, food security, employment, and sustainable livelihoods.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Oyetola noted that Nigeria had already signed the BBNJ Agreement and begun the ratification process, adding that fully implementing the agreement—especially the goal of protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030—is essential to meeting SDG 14.
He warned that achieving this objective requires a shared commitment to strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms capable of delivering tangible ecological results.
Demonstrating regional leadership, Oyetola said Nigeria had led efforts among West African nations to validate a roadmap for proposing a highly protected High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.
In line with the conference’s goals, he voiced Nigeria’s support for the draft Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan, urging the international community—particularly investors and development partners—to offer both technical expertise and financial backing for blue economy projects in developing countries.
He emphasised the critical role of blue finance and marine science transfer in guiding sound policymaking and enabling sustainable ocean-based industries.
Oyetola also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to addressing cross-border ocean issues such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, marine dumping, and the need to enhance ocean surveillance, data collection, and regional capacity for marine services.
He concluded by calling on all nations to take bold and immediate action to protect the oceans and prioritise SDG 14. He underscored that ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and boosting blue economy funding are essential next steps that demand political resolve, scientific precision, and global unity.