Nigeria urges BBNJ ratification, funding for Blue Economy at UN Ocean Conference
At the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Nigeria has called for the immediate ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and increased funding for blue economy initiatives to ensure the sustainable use and protection of the world’s oceans.
Delivering Nigeria’s statement on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed the urgent need for collective global action to safeguard ocean health. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Oyetola announced that Nigeria has signed the BBNJ Agreement and begun its ratification process. He emphasised the importance of designating at least 30% of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030 and called for strong monitoring and enforcement frameworks to ensure ecological impact.
He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa, including a regional roadmap for proposing a highly protected High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents. He also expressed support for the draft Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan.
The Minister urged global investors and development partners to provide technical and financial support for blue economy initiatives in developing nations. He stressed that blue finance and marine science are essential for informed policymaking and sustainable sector growth.
Domestically, Nigeria has launched several ocean governance initiatives, including a National Blue Economy Policy, a roadmap for BBNJ implementation, a revised biodiversity strategy, a marine plastic pollution policy, and modern hydrographic surveys for safer navigation.
Oyetola also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling illegal fishing, marine dumping, and weak monitoring capacity through enhanced data collection and regional cooperation. He called for bold international action to prioritise ocean protection and fully implement multilateral agreements.
The Nigerian delegation includes senior officials from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NIMASA, NIWA, and other key agencies. The urgency of Nigeria’s message was echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned of the mounting threats facing the world’s oceans.
