In a significant diplomatic push at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Nigeria has urged the global community to fast-track the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and ramp up financial support for blue economy initiatives, as part of urgent actions to safeguard the world’s oceans.
Delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message to over 120 countries at the high-level gathering, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said Nigeria is committed to advancing marine biodiversity, tackling climate threats, and leveraging ocean-based industries for sustainable development.
Tinubu, through Oyetola, stressed that the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ treaty is not only a legal imperative but a crucial milestone for global ocean governance. He called for international collaboration backed by political will, scientific integrity, and strategic funding to ensure the treaty’s effectiveness and lasting ecological outcomes.
“Our oceans are the repositories of immense biodiversity, economic opportunity, and global food security. The time to act is now,” Oyetola declared. “We must turn our commitments into enforceable frameworks and provide developing nations the tools they need to protect marine life.”
Nigeria’s active participation signals a strong leadership role in West Africa’s marine policy discourse. According to Oyetola, Nigeria has already signed the BBNJ Agreement and begun the ratification process. The agreement seeks to designate 30% of the world’s oceans as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030—an objective aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
To support the treaty domestically, the Nigerian government has adopted several strategic measures:
A National Blue Economy Policy to drive ocean-sector diversification.
A BBNJ National Roadmap for effective implementation.
A revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
A draft National Policy on Marine Plastic Pollution to combat ocean waste.
Ongoing hydrographic surveys and nautical charting in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea for improved maritime safety.
In regional terms, Nigeria is spearheading efforts to establish a High Seas Marine Protected Area across the Canary and Guinea Currents—an initiative that could enhance conservation in one of the most ecologically significant marine zones in West Africa.
A major highlight of Nigeria’s appeal at the conference was its call for increased investment in blue economy projects, particularly in the Global South. The Minister urged global financiers, donor agencies, and development partners to prioritise blue finance, capacity building, and marine science transfer.
“Equitable access to funding and expertise is essential if we are to build resilient, ocean-based economies that do not compromise biodiversity,” Oyetola said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s endorsement of the Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan, the conference’s outcome document, which charts a global path for marine sustainability.
Nigeria’s message aligns with mounting concerns expressed by global leaders at the conference. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world’s oceans face grave threats from overfishing, rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution, and acidification. He noted that oceans absorb more than 90% of the heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, making them critical buffers against climate change.
As momentum builds around ocean protection, Nigeria’s proactive engagement could position it as a continental leader in marine conservation and blue economy development. However, observers stress that concrete implementation and measurable outcomes will determine the success of these ambitious policy commitments.
With the BBNJ Agreement seen as a turning point in international marine governance, Nigeria’s push for prompt ratification and sustainable ocean financing underscores its readiness to help shape a global ocean stewardship model—one that balances biodiversity conservation with economic opportunity.