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By Chinyere Anyanwu, [email protected]
The Royal Norwegian Embassy to Nigeria and the Norwegian Seafood Council have joined forces to advocate for the inclusion of stockfish on the Nigerian government’s recently established duty-free list for specific food items.
During a seafood seminar at the weekend in Lagos, the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Svein Baera, commended the strong relationship between the two countries and highlighted the importance of the seminar’s focus on supporting women-led businesses in exporting goods to other African nations. He also expressed his support for the government’s decision to create a duty-free window for certain food items.
Baera specifically addressed the importance of stockfish, a vital source of protein for many Nigerian families facing food insecurity. He noted that recent currency fluctuations have negatively impacted affordability and including stockfish on the duty-free list would be a significant benefit.
Fisheries Consultant to the Norwegian Seafood Council, Mrs. Cheke Abiodun Oritsefemiro, echoed the ambassador’s request, emphasising that stockfish is one of the cheapest protein sources available for over five million Nigerians.
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Oritsefemiro also addressed backward integration in fish production. She said the Norwegian Seafood Council is committed to assisting Nigeria in boosting fish farm exports by working to remove alleged bans on Nigerian fish farm products in the EU and the Americas. She added that training programmes were initiated in 2022 to educate fisheries officers and aquaculture farmers on quality assurance, sustainability and current fish farming standards.
Oritsefemiro concluded by reiterating the impact of currency exchange rates on stockfish imports and urging the Nigerian government to include stockfish in the zero-duty programme for the next six months to ensure its affordability for Nigerians.
For over a hundred years, Nigerians have savoured the quality and taste of Norwegian seafood. This shared passion translates into significant economic exchange. In 2023 alone, Nigeria emerged as the largest importer of Norwegian seafood in Africa, with a staggering investment of $43 million (450 million Norwegian kroner) in products like stockfish, mackerel, herring, tusk and saithe. This figure stands as a testament to the high regard Nigerians hold for Norwegian seafood.
The seminar provided a valuable forum for fostering collaboration within the Nigerian seafood sector. It brought together established and potential seafood exporters, importers and stakeholders to connect and gain valuable insights. Attendees were presented with detailed information on the diverse range of Norwegian seafood products available for import, alongside discussions on the challenges faced by Nigerian importers. Additionally, the seminar explored the workings of the Norwegian Seafood Council and the process for local Nigerian producers to acquire the prestigious “Seafood from Norway” trademark, signifying adherence to the highest quality standards.
The trade relationship between Norway and Nigeria in the seafood sector stretches back to the 1890s. Traditionally, exports have focused on pelagic fish like herring and mackerel, alongside various stockfish products, a staple in Nigerian cuisine. While Nigeria remains a significant importer of stockfish (over 9,000 metric tonnes of stockfish and stockfish heads in 2023), there was a decrease in exports observed last year. Similarly, pelagic fish exports followed a similar trend, likely due to high global market prices impacting Nigerian imports.
