The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening maritime collaboration with The Gambia to boost regional security and economic growth.
In a statement issued over the weekend by the Head of Public Relations at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Osagie Edward, Oyetola made this declaration at the Fourth Blue Economy Conference in Banjul, Gambia. He was represented by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola.
Oyetola stressed Nigeria’s determination to extend its maritime security infrastructure beyond its territorial waters. He revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding the possible expansion of the Deep Blue Project’s operations to cover a broader area within the Gulf of Guinea. He added that Nigeria is committed to being a stabilizing force in the region, fostering cooperation, and promoting sustainable development through the blue economy.
“We are dedicated to ensuring safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea region. The recent disruption in global trade due to the Suez Canal crisis has led to an increase in shipping traffic around Africa. To address this, Nigeria is working to extend the operational coverage of its Deep Blue assets to further enhance maritime security,” Oyetola stated.
In addition to advancing regional collaboration, Oyetola called on delegates at the conference to support Nigeria’s bid for re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council (Category ‘C’) for the 2026-2027 biennium.
The former Governor of Osun State also highlighted Nigeria’s global recognition for its maritime security efforts. He noted that both the International Maritime Bureau and the IMO had commended Nigeria for the successful deployment of the Deep Blue Project, which has maintained zero piracy incidents in Nigerian waters for the past three years.
Oyetola emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to building strategic partnerships, strengthening maritime security, and advancing the shared economic interests of West and Central African nations through sustainable blue economy initiatives.
