By Innocent Onoh
As the world marked the 2025 World Ocean Day under the theme “Wonders: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” a resounding call has been made for Nigeria to urgently ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement — a landmark treaty designed to ensure fair and sustainable governance of the ocean beyond national borders.
The call was made during a commemorative event at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was jointly organized by NIOMR, the International Ocean Institute (IOI-Nigeria), and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Abuja.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Babajide Alo — a renowned environmental chemist, ocean governance expert, and Nigeria’s lead negotiator for the BBNJ Agreement, emphasized the treaty’s critical role in safeguarding marine biodiversity. He described the BBNJ (short for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) as a “game-changer” and urged the Nigerian government to act swiftly.
“The leadership in Nigeria has found value in ratifying this treaty, and we are happy that work has begun,” said Prof. Alo. “However, time is of the essence. Nigeria must act swiftly so we can secure our marine resources and assert our influence on the global stage.”
He noted that relevant ministries — including Justice, Foreign Affairs, Environment, and the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy — are already collaborating to formalize Nigeria’s ratification before the end of the year.
The BBNJ Agreement, adopted globally in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiation, seeks to regulate the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction — regions that constitute nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface. Despite Nigeria’s pivotal role in shaping the treaty, it has yet to ratify it.
Prof. Alo outlined the treaty’s four major pillars such as Marine genetic resource access and benefit-sharing, Area-based management tools (including marine protected areas), Environmental impact assessments and Capacity-building and technology transfer.
He emphasized that Nigeria stands to benefit greatly from increased international collaboration and environmental protection to enhanced ocean security and equitable access to marine resources.
“The ocean has long been left to a few countries and corporations to exploit, often at the expense of developing nations,” he said. “With the BBNJ Agreement in force, Nigeria and other coastal nations can reclaim ownership and ensure sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters.”
He also warned of rising threats to the marine environment, including toxic waste dumping, overfishing, and plastic pollution — and called on the government to implement stronger regulatory measures in line with international treaties.
On plastic pollution, Dr. Taiwo Adewale, National Coordinator of Eco-Cyclo Plastics, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Plastic Pollution: Extended Producer Responsibility and Circular Economy.” He revealed that Nigeria produces nearly five billion plastic containers annually, yet only 30% are recovered, with the rest polluting the environment and oceans.
“It’s not just the government’s responsibility — producers must be accountable,” Dr. Adewale said. “The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy compels companies to manage the plastic waste generated from their products. If you produce plastic bottles, you must also collect and recycle them.”
He called for a national buy-back mechanism and emphasized the need for public education, corporate compliance, and strong government enforcement to address Nigeria’s growing plastic crisis.
In his remarks, Mr. Akanbi Williams, Director of IOI-Nigeria, stressed the need for Nigeria to take leadership in West Africa’s ocean governance efforts by not only ratifying the BBNJ Agreement but also building regional coalitions. He underscored the importance of global cooperation in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.”
“Today’s celebration is not just symbolic,” Mr. Williams said. “It’s a rallying cry to intensify action, build partnerships, and ensure our oceans are managed equitably and sustainably.”
Representing NIOMR’s Executive Director/CEO, Dr. Patience Obatola, Director of Research, reiterated the ocean’s vital services — including oxygen production, climate regulation, food security, and commerce — especially for Nigeria’s coastal communities. She praised the long-standing collaboration between NIOMR and IOI-Nigeria in marine research, policy advocacy, and ocean literacy.
“World Ocean Day reminds us to recommit to protecting the lifeblood of our planet,” she said. “This year’s theme encourages us to sustain the very systems that sustain human life.”
Joining the event virtually, Dr. Ronald D. Kayanja, Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Abuja, lauded NIOMR and IOI-Nigeria for organizing the forum. He highlighted the urgency of addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and urged Nigeria to align its actions with the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The event ended on a festive note with a symbolic cultural performance by schoolchildren from Makoko, a coastal community in Lagos. Dressed in traditional attire and paddling colorful canoes, the children celebrated their ocean heritage and emphasized the generational importance of marine conservation.
As Nigeria prepares for critical decisions regarding the BBNJ Agreement, one message echoed clearly from stakeholders, scientists, and civil society: the time for action is now. Ratifying the BBNJ Treaty is not merely a diplomatic move — it is a moral and ecological imperative for the country’s future.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Navy, Fisheries Society of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment, and other agencies. The event also featured a paper presentation on “The Power of Collaboration in Achieving Sustainable Solutions to Plastic Pollution” by Dr. Alexander Akhigbe of Cleanup Initiative.