President Bola Tinubu has called for the prompt ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and a significant increase in funding for blue economy initiatives to ensure the protection and sustainable use of the world’s oceans.
Delivering Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of Tinubu, at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasised that urgent and collective global action was needed to secure the health of the oceans for future generations.
The conference, which has drawn participation from over 120 member states, is jointly hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean”.
Oyetola, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Bolaji Akinola, stated that as a coastal state, Nigeria recognised the ocean as a repository of tremendous wealth, natural capital, global food security, employment opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods.
He said that Nigeria was committed to achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
According to him, Nigeria had already signed the BBNJ Agreement and commenced its ratification process, underscoring that the full implementation of the agreement, particularly the goal of designating at least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030, is essential for achieving the goals of SDG 14.