Gulf of Guinea Commission Appoints Oyetola to Lead Regional Blue Economy Policy

Gulf of Guinea Commission Appoints Oyetola to Lead Regional Blue Economy Policy

By Sarah Kitka

Abuja (Core Reporters) -The Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, to spearhead the development of a comprehensive regional policy on marine and blue economy, aimed at strengthening maritime security, sustainable ocean governance and economic cooperation among member states.

The appointment follows Nigeria’s development and approval of its first-ever National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which the Commission says has inspired efforts to establish a similar regional framework for the Gulf of Guinea.

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the GGC, Ambassador Obinna Agbugba, disclosed this on Tuesday during a meeting with Oyetola in his office in Abuja. He spoke on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Mr José Mba Abeso.

Agbugba commended the Minister for pioneering Nigeria’s landmark policy and acknowledged his contributions to the development of the marine and blue economy sector. He noted that Nigeria’s initiative had provided an important foundation for the Commission’s regional ambitions.

He also thanked Oyetola for accepting the assignment, expressing confidence in his leadership and experience.

In his response, Oyetola expressed appreciation to the Commission for the confidence reposed in him, describing the assignment as an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation and promote the sustainable use of shared marine resources.

The Minister disclosed that the Commission had formally requested his leadership in developing the regional policy through a letter dated May 7, 2026.

“Nigeria remains fully committed to the ideals of regional cooperation, sustainable ocean governance and the shared prosperity of the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

Following the request, Oyetola established a multi-stakeholder committee comprising technical departments of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics to drive the process.

He said the committee had developed two foundational documents: a draft Strategic Plan for the Development and Operationalisation of a Gulf of Guinea Commission Policy on Marine and Blue Economy (2026–2030), and a draft Policy Framework and Strategy Template.

According to the Minister, the documents outline strategic priorities, objectives, proposed actions, key performance indicators, implementation timelines, lead agencies and funding considerations.

He added that the drafts were prepared in consideration of the 2025 Yaoundé Declaration and the work of the United Nations Task Force supporting the GGC’s 2026 Work Plan, while remaining aligned with the Commission’s objectives and specific requests.

Oyetola subsequently presented the two documents to Agbugba for consideration by the Commission.

To ensure effective coordination and broad-based participation, the Minister proposed establishing a Steering Committee to guide policy development and coordinate stakeholder engagement. He also recommended that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy serve as the committee’s secretariat.

He emphasised the importance of inclusive consultations involving member states, relevant institutions and stakeholders to ensure regional ownership of the policy. He also called for clear timelines and responsibilities for reviewing the draft documents and establishing the proposed committee.

Oyetola said a comprehensive regional policy would strengthen collaboration among member states, address common maritime challenges, promote investment and support efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Established on July 3, 2001, with its headquarters in Luanda, Angola, the Gulf of Guinea Commission is an intergovernmental organisation committed to promoting peace, security, economic integration, sustainable resource development and protection of the marine environment.

Its nine member states are Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

The proposed policy is expected to provide a common strategic direction for the region, translating commitments to cooperation into coordinated action to protect marine resources, strengthen maritime security and unlock the blue economy potential of the Gulf of Guinea.

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