As part of the multistage preparations for the 16th FCWC Conference of Ministers, an FCWC delegation conducted a working visit on 1 September 2025 to the Federal Minister of Marine and Blue Economy (MMBE) of Nigeria, Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola, at the MMBE headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. The delegation was hosted by the Honourable Minister Oyetola, along with the Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oloruntola; the Director of the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon; and other senior officials from the federal ministry.

 

In his opening remarks, Hon. Min Oyetola stated that “Nigeria values the partnership and solidarity that the FCWC represents and remains committed to working with all Member States in strengthening regional fisheries management, promoting sustainable utilisation of marine resources, and enhancing the socio-economic benefits for our citizens.” He called for the meeting to clearly identify the direction of Nigeria’s Chairmanship and thereby enable Nigeria to align its interventions with the broader objectives of the FCWC.

 

The FCWC delegation, led by the FCWC Chairman and Director-General (a.i.) of Liberia’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Cyrus Saygbe, comprised: the FCWC Secretary General, Dr Gaston Antoine Djihinto; TMT West and Central Africa Coordinator, Viviane Koutob; and FCWC Regional MCS Officer, Adedotun Adekunmisi.

 

The meeting finalised plans to host the 16th FCWC Conference of Ministers in late 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, during which Nigeria will assume the chair. Discussions were also held on fisheries projects being implemented in Nigeria, as well as the West African Sustainable Oceans Programme (WASOP), which the FCWC and other partners are implementing.

 

The meeting also finalised arrangements for a Liberia-Nigeria simultaneous national maritime patrol exercise, which the FCWC’s Regional MCS Centre will coordinate in partnership with the fisheries ministries and navies of Liberia and Nigeria, as well as other partners, including TMT and the Joint Analytical Cell.

 

The meeting concluded with the signature of two key FCWC instruments: the “Monrovia Declaration” and the “Protocol on Labour Standards for Crew and the Elimination of Forced Labour on Fishing Vessels in the FCWC region”.