President Bola Tinubu has called on the international community to swiftly ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and scale up funding for blue economy initiatives aimed at safeguarding the world’s oceans and promoting their sustainable use.
Speaking through Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, President Tinubu emphasized the urgent need for collective global action to ensure the health and sustainability of the oceans for future generations.
Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, disclosed excerpts of the President’s remarks in a statement titled “Nigeria Calls for Prompt Ratification of Agreement to Protect Oceans, Increase Funding to Developing Countries.”
The conference, which has attracted delegates from over 120 countries, is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s stance, President Tinubu noted that as a coastal nation, Nigeria views the ocean as a source of immense wealth, vital natural capital, food security, jobs, and sustainable livelihoods.
He reiterated Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
