Nigeria Seeks Stronger EU Partnership Against Maritime Crime

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the European Union to deepen collaboration with Nigeria and regional partners to address escalating maritime threats including illegal fishing, human trafficking, and environmental crimes threatening the Gulf of Guinea.

Oyetola made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the European Union Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network Project at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister emphasized that evolving security challenges in the region require a broader, more integrated, and sustained response anchored on strong international partnerships that can provide the technical expertise and financial support necessary to combat sophisticated maritime criminal networks.

The EU delegation, led by Ms Stéphanie Vergniault, was in Nigeria conducting an independent assessment of the EU-funded initiative known as GoGIN II, which supports maritime coordination and information sharing across the Gulf of Guinea region.

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Oyetola reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a vital platform for regional cooperation, collective response, and intelligence exchange among Gulf of Guinea nations. He credited EU-backed interventions such as GoGIN II with playing an important role in strengthening this framework by enhancing maritime domain awareness and facilitating closer collaboration among national and regional agencies.

The minister acknowledged the significant impact of the YARIS information-sharing system in improving coordination among maritime stakeholders. However, he stressed the critical need to sustain and optimize its operational use across all participating nations to maximize its effectiveness.

Oyetola highlighted the importance of improving interoperability between regional centres and national institutions as a priority for future collaboration. He emphasized that continued capacity building and technical support from international partners would be essential to ensuring that maritime agencies across the region maintain the skills and resources necessary to address emerging threats.

Pointing to Nigeria’s own successful efforts, Oyetola cited the Deep Blue Project as evidence of what can be achieved when national initiatives receive appropriate support and resources. The project has contributed significantly to reducing piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining national ownership with regional and international support mechanisms.

“The progress recorded demonstrates the effectiveness of combining national ownership with regional and international support,” Oyetola said.

The minister urged all stakeholders to focus on consolidating these security achievements and ensuring long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership mechanisms. He stressed that maintaining the gains already recorded would be critical to securing the maritime domain and supporting legitimate economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea, including shipping, fishing, and oil and gas operations.

The EU delegation’s visit represents part of a broader evaluation process examining the programme’s performance, operational results, and sustainability. Ms Vergniault explained that the mission is designed to identify lessons that could shape future maritime security initiatives across the region.

The evaluation team, which includes Captain Alioune Diop, is engaging key stakeholders throughout Nigeria to gather operational feedback on the use of the YARIS platform, assess the programme’s contribution to coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture, and identify prevailing challenges in the maritime sector that require additional attention and resources.

The Yaoundé Architecture represents a significant regional framework bringing together Gulf of Guinea nations to address shared maritime security concerns. The framework relies heavily on information sharing and coordinated responses to maritime crimes that cross borders and affect multiple countries.

The YARIS platform has become central to these coordination efforts, providing a mechanism for rapid information exchange among maritime authorities across the region. However, officials acknowledge that the system’s full potential can only be realized through sustained investment, continued training, and improved integration with national maritime operations centres.

The Deep Blue Project referenced by Oyetola has become a model for national maritime security initiatives, combining advanced surveillance technology with coordinated naval responses and intelligence gathering to reduce criminal activity at sea.

The declining piracy incidents attributed to the Deep Blue Project suggest that comprehensive maritime security strategies combining technology, personnel, and inter-agency cooperation can effectively address security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

Oyetola’s call for stronger EU engagement reflects growing recognition that maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea requires international cooperation given the transnational nature of maritime crimes. Illegal fishing, human trafficking, and environmental crimes do not respect national borders, necessitating coordinated responses involving multiple nations and international partners.

The ongoing EU evaluation mission signals the international community’s commitment to supporting maritime security in West Africa and demonstrates that Europe views stability in the Gulf of Guinea as important to broader regional development and security objectives.