Nigeria 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 a message at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasised that urgent and collective global action is needed to secure the health of the oceans for future generations.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed that prompt ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and increased funding for blue economy initiatives are crucial next steps that must be backed by political will, scientific rigour and global cooperation.

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’.

The President stated that Nigeria recognises the ocean as a repository of tremendous wealth, natural capital, global food security, employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.

He announced that Nigeria has 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 Sustainable Development Goal 14 target.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the targets as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The President, however, cautioned that realising this vision will require a collective commitment to robust monitoring and enforcement frameworks capable of guaranteeing positive ecological outcomes.

Demonstrating regional leadership, he said Nigeria has also spearheaded efforts among West African nations, validating a regional roadmap for the development of a proposal to designate a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.

Aligning with the conference’s theme, the President voiced Nigeria’s support for the adoption of the draft Nice Ocean Action Declaration and Plan.

He called on the global community, particularly investors and development partners, to provide both technical expertise and financial resources to support blue economy initiatives in developing nations.

He stressed that meaningful contributions in blue finance and the transfer of marine science are critical to enable better policymaking and foster sustainable ocean-based sectors.

He highlighted several domestic initiatives that Nigeria is implementing to strengthen its ocean governance.

These include the adoption of a National Blue Economy Policy aimed at incentivising sustainable diversification into ocean-based industries, the development of a national roadmap for BBNJ treaty ratification and implementation, and the revision of Nigeria’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to align with global biodiversity targets.

The Nigerian leader listed others as the formulation of a National Policy on Marine Plastic Pollution to address land-based sources of marine debris, and the advancement of hydrographic surveys and modern charting schemes to support safer maritime operations across Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

The urgency of Nigeria’s message was echoed by other world leaders at the conference.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned that the world’s oceans are under unprecedented strain, absorbing 90 per cent of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions while suffering from overfishing, rising temperatures, acidification, and plastic pollution.