Business

Nigeria formally Accepts WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

Published

3 years ago

June 13, 2023

484 Views

Nigeria has deposited its instrument of acceptance for the World Trade Organisation’s ((WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid presented Nigeria’s instrument of acceptance to WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.

Ambassador Abdulhamid said: “The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to promote sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and the improvement of livelihoods while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem, believing that the Agreement shall put a stop to all harmful fisheries subsidies such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities by all WTO members.”

“By this instrument of acceptance, Nigeria reassures its commitment to a rule-based multilateral trading system by guaranteeing its compliance with the Agreement as well as refraining from introducing any new subsidies that harm the marine environment while recognizing the need for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries which can be achieved through adequate policy space to develop its fisheries sector and technical assistance and capacity building in order to implement the discipline.

Nigeria calls on other WTO members who are yet to ratify this agreement to do so as soon as possible so as to contribute to our global effort of preservation of the global fish stocks,” he said.

DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am profoundly grateful to Nigeria for formally accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
I am proud to see the country’s continued commitment to sustainable development and its vote of confidence in the work of the WTO.
Nigeria’s acceptance adds to our growing tally of members that have accepted the Agreement — we have received about one-third of the total that we need for the Agreement to enter into force.

I hope that Nigeria’s action serves as an inspiration to other governments in Africa and the rest of the world to move swiftly to implement the Agreement and foster global cooperation for the benefit of our shared future.”

Nigeria is the fifth-largest African fishing nation and is estimated to lose about USD70 million each year to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The sector accounts for as much as 5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihood of about 24 million people.

Business

Naira Exchange Rates Thursday, 22 July

Published

5 hours ago

July 23, 2026

OCHEFA

23 Views

BLACK MARKET RATES

US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1,405 Sell ₦1,410

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,880 Sell: ₦1,900

EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,580 Sell ₦1,600

CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90

UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370 CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦190 Sell ₦205

GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110

WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400

CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900

CBN OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES

US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,369.63

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,833.12

EURO (EUR) ₦1,563.03

SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,685.08

JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.40

CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦202.21

WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39

WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,867.90

SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦366.36

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦83.40

Business

President Tinubu Tasks Judicial Officers To Remain Abreast of Evolving Global Maritime Laws

President Tinubu made the call in Abuja during the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

Published

22 hours ago

July 22, 2026

OCHEFA

30 Views

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday urged judges to continually update their knowledge on autonomous vessels, digital shipping, artificial intelligence-driven maritime operations, maritime security and evolving international environmental regulations.

Represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, President Tinubu lauded the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for initiating and sustaining the international seminar for judges.

He described it as one of Nigeria’s foremost platforms for strengthening maritime jurisprudence, enhancing judicial capacity and promoting excellence in maritime justice.

According to Oyetola , rapid technological advancement is creating unprecedented legal questions relating to liability, navigational responsibility, insurance, collision regulations and allocation of responsibility when autonomous vessels malfunction.

He emphasised that the courts will increasingly adjudicate disputes involving decarbonisation, environmental compliance, blockchain-enabled cargo documentation, electronic bills of lading and other evolving international maritime legal frameworks.

“The emergence of autonomous vessels demands a judiciary equipped to resolve complex legal questions involving liability, insurance, navigation and technological accountability.

“Judicial officers must remain abreast of evolving international maritime law to ensure justice keeps pace with technological innovation,” he said.