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From Idu Jude, Abuja
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has vowed to end Nigeria’s dependence on fish importation by aggressively boosting local production.
Speaking at a meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, he outlined a bold vision aimed at transforming the nation’s aquaculture sector into a powerhouse of food security, employment, and export competitiveness.
Declaring that “Nigeria must chart a new course towards self-sufficiency in fish production,” 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.
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.
The minister announced that 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 the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises 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,” the minister said.
During the interactive session, participants raised a wide range of 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, and the rising cost of imported fish feed.
Responding to the concerns, Oyetola assured that the ministry had already engaged 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 would 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,” he added, pointing to integrated planning and inter-ministerial cooperation as key pillars of the strategy.
“This meeting is not the end; it is the beginning of a sustained and transformative dialogue,” the minister assured.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, who delivered the welcome address, noted that the meeting was in fulfilment of commitments made by the minister during the ministry’s second-quarter citizens and stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos, on July 3. He reiterated the ministry’s readiness to build enduring partnerships with cooperative societies to drive inclusive growth.
Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, also highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks and adopting enterprise-driven models to enhance productivity and attract funding.
Participants praised the initiative as “timely and long overdue,” expressing hope that the consultative approach would lead to actionable results. The meeting, described as robust and frank, ended with renewed optimism about Nigeria’s potential to become self-sufficient in fish production and a net exporter of fish in the near future.
