The Lagos State Government has called for the deliberate development of the inland waterways and access to long-term financing to boost local production, support sustainable fisheries value chain, food security, job creation, coastal livelihoods to unlock Nigeria’s estimated N25 trillion fisheries sector.

The call was made at the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) national conference on sustainable fishing held in Apapa, Lagos.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya, who was represented by the Director of Fisheries, Mrs Osunkoya Muibat, lamented that financial institutions are often unwilling to lend to fisheries operators because of the perceived high cost and risks associated with the sector.

Speaking on the topic, “Building a Sustainable Fisheries Value Chain for Food Security and Economic Growth,” she said fishers, fish farmers and other operators across the fisheries value chain require adequate financing to acquire boats, engines, fishing gear, safety equipment and other productive assets.

According to her, without access to affordable capital, operators in the sector would struggle to expand production and improve their businesses.

She explained that the fisheries value chain involves several interconnected activities, from production and landing of fish to handling, processing, storage, transportation, marketing and eventual consumption.

Olusanya noted that weaknesses at any point in the chain could lead to losses for producers and reduce the quantity and quality of fish available to consumers.

The Commissioner said financing is only one of several areas that requires attention if Nigeria is to build a fisheries value chain capable of supporting food security, creating jobs and contributing significantly to economic growth.

“The Banks tend to be very reluctant because they tell you it’s expensive, so they don’t want to lend,” she said. She also stressed the need to reduce post-harvest losses through improved processing, storage and transportation facilities, noting that such interventions would increase the availability of fish while also improving the income of people working in the sector.

According to her, strengthening the fisheries value chain would enable food security and improved livelihoods to reinforce each other rather than being treated as competing objectives. She said Lagos is strategically positioned to benefit from a stronger fisheries industry because of its extensive marine, lagoon, river and estuary resources.

The Commissioner noted that the state has a large community of fishers, fish farmers, processors, traders, transporters and input suppliers whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on fisheries.

She, however, said fisheries development in Lagos must take into account the multiple uses of the state’s waterways, which are also used by passenger boats, commercial operators, security agencies and other maritime users.

She called for stronger coordination among fisheries authorities, maritime agencies, security agencies, waterway operators and fishing communities to ensure that the various users of the waterways could operate safely.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, called for the deliberate development of Nigeria’s inland waterways to support sustainable fisheries, food security and coastal livelihoods.

Emmanuel who is also the General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), stated that Nigeria needed to look beyond the traditional use of inland waterways for passenger transportation and deliberately harness them as economic infrastructure capable of connecting producers, traders, and communities to markets.

Emmanuel, who was represented at the conference by the Head of Operations, LASWA, Ibrahim Oladayo, noted that efficient waterways could improve access to fishing grounds, facilitate the movement of fish-farming inputs and equipment, and enable fresh catches to reach markets more quickly.

He identified Epe, Ikorodu, and Badagry as important areas in Lagos’ fishing, aquaculture and seafood economy, stressing that fisheries development could not be separated from the infrastructure and transport systems serving those communities.

The LASWA boss highlighted the need for clean and sheltered landing points, efficient evacuation of catches, access for traders, transportation of feed and equipment, and adequate cold-storage facilities.

He advocated closer integration between fisheries policy and transport planning, saying both areas should no longer operate in disconnected silos.

Emmanuel further proposed the development of integrated waterfront nodes where conditions permit, combining passenger mobility with facilities such as artisanal landing points, solar-powered cold storage, gear-repair workshops, regulated processing areas and waterfront markets.