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Norway and Nigeria are working to remove barriers limiting Nigerian fish and aquaculture products from accessing international markets, as both countries seek to deepen seafood cooperation and turn Nigeria’s growing fish-farming industry into a stronger contributor to exports, jobs and economic growth.
The development emerged at an interactive seminar on stockfish, seafood and aquaculture organised for stakeholders involved in seafood production, imports, exports and regulation in Nigeria.
The meeting brought together Norwegian seafood exporters, Nigerian importers, fish farmers, fisheries consultants, regulators and representatives of relevant government agencies.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Svein Baera, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the long-standing stockfish trade between both countries while expanding cooperation into aquaculture and knowledge exchange.
Baera said Norwegian stockfish had been a household product in Nigeria for more than 100 years, adding that Norway and Nigeria had common interests in developing fish farming.
He said Norway was prepared to share its experience in aquaculture to help Nigeria build an industry capable of improving food security, creating employment and contributing to economic growth.
“Norway and Nigeria have been partners since 1960. We build this business partnership on many years of political and economic partnership,” he said.
According to him, the existing relationship between both countries, including cooperation in the oil and gas sector, had created a strong foundation for expanding collaboration in seafood and fish farming.
He said Norwegian experts at the seminar had practical experience in fish farming which could help Nigerian practitioners increase production, improve income and create more jobs.
Also speaking, Mr Jonny Haaberg, Director for Africa and Middle East, Norwegian Seafood Council, said Nigeria remained an important market for Norwegian stockfish and other seafood products.
Haaberg said the long-standing trade had created strong commercial and cultural links between both countries, stressing that Norway also recognised Nigeria’s need to increase domestic seafood production through aquaculture.
He said Norway had accumulated considerable knowledge from decades of developing its aquaculture industry and was willing to share that expertise with Nigeria.
“It’s part of the thinking about that business is basically partnership over time. So if you develop, we develop,” he said.
Haaberg noted that Norway itself imported seafood products it could not produce locally despite being a major seafood exporter, adding that there was room for both countries to benefit from continued seafood trade.
He attributed a previous decline in seafood trade partly to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges, but said improved stability in the naira was providing greater certainty for importers and exporters.
For Mr Ole Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of SUFI Premium Seafood, a Norwegian stockfish exporter, Nigeria remains a major market for Norwegian seafood.
Olsen said Nigeria and Italy were traditionally major markets for Norwegian stockfish, with some of the products exported to Nigeria being particularly popular among Nigerian consumers.
He disclosed that his company exports between 50 million and 100 million Norwegian kroner worth of products to Nigeria annually, equivalent to about $5 million to $10 million.
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“For us as a company, that makes it very, very important, especially considering that a lot of the products we are selling to Nigeria are not sold to other markets,” he said.
Olsen, however, said the sharp increase in raw-material prices in the previous year had created difficulties for exporters and importers.
He expressed optimism that stabilising raw-material supplies and the naira would help prevent further significant increases in prices, while noting that Norwegian exporters were also working to improve the quality of stockfish supplied to Nigeria.
But beyond the established stockfish trade, the meeting focused heavily on Nigeria’s ambition to gain access to international markets for locally produced fish.
Ms Abiodun Oritsejemine Cheke, Fisheries Consultant to the Norwegian Seafood Council in Nigeria and coordinator of the seminar, said the meeting was aimed at supporting the development of Nigeria’s aquaculture sector and improving access to international markets for Nigerian fish products.
Cheke said Norway had previously supported training for Nigerian government regulatory authorities and aquaculture practitioners, including farm visits designed to improve production practices and compliance with international standards.
She said the latest seminar was intended to review progress and identify ways of facilitating greater access for Nigerian aquaculture products to foreign markets.
“The Norwegian government is trying to assist Nigeria to vacate the ban on Nigeria’s fish farm products in the international market,” she said.
Cheke said improved compliance, fish-health management and sustainable production would be critical to winning greater acceptance for Nigerian fish products internationally.
She said representatives of WorldFish, fisheries authorities and the Nigeria Customs Service were involved in providing information on regulatory requirements governing seafood imports and exports.
“We don’t cut corners and we don’t like our customers to cut corners or break the laws of Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, opening international markets to Nigerian aquaculture products could stimulate investment in fish farming and processing, create jobs and increase government revenue from legitimate trade.
She added that the development of the sector could also increase its contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
The seminar also featured presentations on new seafood products and opportunities for diversifying the Nigerian market.
Olsen showcased products made from cod by-products, including canned cod heads, cod liver and cod swim bladders.
The company said its canned cod head had a shelf life of up to four years and could be used in soups and stews, with the products presented to Nigerian stakeholders for market feedback.
For Nigeria, the emerging partnership offers an opportunity to move beyond being a major destination for imported stockfish and build an aquaculture industry capable of producing, processing and exporting fish to international markets.
