- Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola (left), Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia, Tuvalu’s Special Envoy on Oceans, Climate Change and the Commonwealth, Ambassador Shivshankar Nair, and the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, after Oyetola met with the Tuvaluan minister on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Towards a successful shot at the Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council later this year, Nigeria has engaged leaders from several island nations to solicit support for its election bid.
To this end, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, met separately on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape.
He also met with the Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, Dr. Joyelle Clarke, and Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia.
The meetings underscored Nigeria’s commitment to building alliances with countries that, though geographically distant, share common vulnerabilities and aspirations within the global maritime community.
Oyetola explained that Nigeria’s quest for a seat on the IMO Council is not driven by ambition alone but also a desire to ensure greater representation for African nations, developing countries and vulnerable coastal and island states in global maritime decision-making.
According to his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the minister assured that Nigeria would be a reliable ally advocating for stronger global commitments to maritime decarbonisation.
The minister further highlighted that Nigeria’s dedication to these principles is underscored by the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 to reflect the nation’s renewed commitment to sustainable ocean governance, blue economic growth, and building resilience against climate change.
Oyetola said Nigeria is reimagining its relationship with the sea through initiatives ranging from port modernisation and enhanced maritime security to ocean sustainability and the development of coastal communities.
Explaining that Nigeria is not seeking support in isolation but also extending an offer of partnership, he articulated a vision for an IMO Council that actively protects the interests of the most vulnerable nations and pledged that Nigeria would use its voice, vote and regional influence to advocate for the priorities of developing nations.
Furthermore, he stated the nation’s preparedness to push for a more equitable maritime regulatory framework that acknowledges disparities in national capacities, supports accessible climate-smart shipping technologies, and fosters practical cooperation in the development of sustainable blue economies between island nations and African coastal states like Nigeria.
Oyetola also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to serve as a credible voice for developing nations within the international maritime system, forging alliances based on shared challenges and mutual interests.
- Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola (left) and Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, Dr. Joyelle Clarke, when they met on the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France
