The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to developing a sustainable seafood production value chain that will drive food security, employment generation, and economic growth in Nigeria.
The minister, who disclosed this at an interactive seminar between stakeholders and regulatory authorities involved in stockfish and seafood import and export trade in Lagos, emphasised that the seafood value chain remains a key pillar of Nigeria’s blue economy.
“The seafood value chain is an important component of Nigeria’s food securityNigeria’s food security, trade system, and nutrition improvement. It supports our goal of harnessing marine and aquatic resources for sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Represented by the Director, Federal Fisheries and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, Oyetola commended the Government of Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Council for their yearly collaboration with Nigeria, describing the partnership as instrumental to advancing the fisheries and aquaculture subsector.
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has intensified efforts to strengthen policies and institutional frameworks guiding the sector through instruments such as the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, Fisheries Bill, and Marine and Blue Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Oyetola noted that while Nigeria still imports fish to meet the high demand, the long-term goal is self-sufficiency through public-private investment, improved infrastructure, and modern technology.
The minister further disclosed that the government is strengthening the cold chain system, enhancing value addition, and collaborating with development partners like the World Bank and research institutions to promote innovation and sustainability.
He also announced efforts to streamline seafood import and export procedures through collaboration with agencies such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Customs Service, supported by the National Single Window platform for digitalised operations.
Under the Blue Economy framework, he added that the ministry is addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, promoting private sector investments, and upgrading fish processing systems to meet global standards.
“The government alone cannot achieve these goals. Stakeholders must cooperate, comply with standards, and contribute practical solutions to challenges facing the sector,” he said.
The Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Svein Baera, highlighted the deep cultural and economic ties between both nations, describing the seafood trade as more than commerce, a story of cultural exchange and mutual benefit.
“Norway is a country blessed with a long coastline and cold, clean waters that have made us a global leader in seafood production for many years. Nigeria, on the other hand, is a country where people love stockfish, it is an important part of the Nigerian kitchen,” Baera said.
He noted that Nigeria remains one of the largest importers of Norwegian stockfish, a trade relationship that has evolved over decades into a symbol of friendship and shared values.
Baera emphasised both countries’ commitment to sustainability, noting that Norway’s reduction in cod quotas was a deliberate step to protect fish stocks and ensure long-term marine health.
In her presentation, the Director of Business Support, Strategy and Organisation at the Norwegian Seafood Council, Kathrine Tveiteras, shared insights into Norway’s seafood export performance and the council’s pivotal role in promoting global seafood trade.
“Last year, we exported 38 million meals of seafood every single day, to a total value of $17.5 billion. It’s quite a lot for a small country like Norway,” she said.
Tveiteras explained that behind these figures lies the hard work of numerous players, large and small, across the seafood value chain, including those in cod, salmon, and other species.
She noted that the Norwegian Seafood Council, established in 1991 and owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, works on behalf of the entire Norwegian seafood industry and is funded through a mandatory export levy.
The Director for Africa at the Norwegian Seafood Council, Johnny Haaberg, explained that Norway, being the largest producer of aquaculture salmon in the world, continues to share its knowledge of fish management and aquaculture practices with Nigeria to strengthen local capacity.
He, however, lamented that the global reduction in cod quotas due to sustainability measures which has limited the quantity of raw materials available for stockfish production, leading to higher prices globally.
“We have the world’s largest cod stock up in the north, and we try to manage it sustainably. In Norway, scientists advise how much we should fish each year so we don’t deplete the stock. When fish populations are weak, we reduce quotas so they can rebuild,” he explained.
According to him, this scientific approach, though necessary, has affected supply and demand, pushing up global prices. Fisheries Consultant to the Council, Abiodun Oritsejemine Cheke, disclosed plans to launch training programmes for Nigerian fish farmers and officers focused on sustainability, documentation, and trade certification areas limiting Nigeria’s fish exports.
She also renewed the call for a temporary zero-duty window of 150 days on stockfish heads, describing stockfish as one of the most affordable sources of protein for Nigerian families.
“A small pack costing about N200 can feed a family of four when combined with vegetables or local dishes. We hope the government will consider this request favourably,” she said.
Cheke added that once current export restrictions are lifted, Norway is ready to buy farmed Nigerian tilapia at zero export duty, a move that will boost local fish production and international trade participation.
