The Nigerian government has vowed to end Nigeria’s dependence on fish importation by aggressively boosting local fish production.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this at a high-level consultative meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He outlined a bold vision aimed at transforming the nation’s aquaculture sector into a powerhouse of food security, employment, and export competitiveness.
“Nigeria must chart a new course towards self-sufficiency in fish production,”
Mr. Oyetola emphasised that the Federal Government is fully committed to supporting the fisheries and aquaculture subsector through policy, technical support, and financial inclusion.
“We will scale up domestic fish production, reduce dependency on imports, and reposition the sector for sustainable growth,” he said.
According to him, the Ministry is intensifying efforts to support women and youth in the fishing sector, stating that start-up grants and other empowerment initiatives are already in the pipeline.
He said this move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes youth engagement and economic diversification.
“Increasing youth participation in aquaculture is not only vital for food production but also a strategic solution to reducing unemployment,”
“We are committed to ensuring that young people and women are not left behind in this transformation.” He added
During the interactive session, participants raised a wide range of pressing challenges currently facing the sector.
These included overfishing, environmental degradation, lack of access to affordable finance, post-harvest losses, inadequate cold storage infrastructure, poor transportation and market linkages, low youth involvement, multiple taxation by local government authorities, and the rising cost of imported fish feed.
Responding to these concerns, Minister Oyetola gave strong assurances that the Ministry is already engaging stakeholders, both local and international, to tackle the identified issues head-on.
He revealed that discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to secure financial support for fish farmers and that the Ministry will be collaborate with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to ensure affordable and accessible insurance coverage for fish farmers across the country.
“We are also in talks with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to replicate the successful aquaculture model at the Oyan Dam in other parts of the country,”
“This meeting is not the end — it is the beginning of a sustained and transformative dialogue,” the Minister assured.
The Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr Wellington Omoragbon, highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks and adopting enterprise-driven models to enhance productivity and attract funding.
The meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, brought together leaders and members of major fisheries and aquaculture associations, including the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Women in Fish Farming and Aquaculture, and the Practicing Farmers Association of Nigeria.
Victoria Ibanga