The Federal Government has allocated about N122.19 billion to the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the 2026 budget as part of efforts to enhance domestic fish production, curb imports, and address food security.

The investment aligns with government targets to meet Nigeria’s estimated 3.6 million metric tonnes of fish demand yearly, as domestic consumption rose from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2025.

According to the budget document, the allocations span institutional strengthening, research and training, infrastructure, fisheries monitoring and empowerment programmes for artisanal and commercial operators nationwide.

At the institutional level, the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) received N58.68 billion, including N35 million for youth and women training at the Edeoha Fish Farm Centre in the South-South and another N35 million for the revitalisation of a fish farm serving the Udebu farming community.

The Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, was allocated N4.41 billion, while the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries, Baga, received N1.41 billion.

Within Baga’s allocation are N31.92 million for empowering unemployed youths and women in aquaculture, N33.11 million for empowerment across the fish value chain and N34.3 million for skills development for fishers along the Lake Chad Basin.

Also, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, secured N52.26 billion, including N42 million for fisheries and aquaculture development across the six geopolitical zones and N6.3 million for fish ponds and farming inputs at its Enugu outstation.

The National Institute for FreshWater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, was allocated N3.16 billion, with N14.36 million for integrating aquaculture into artisanal inland fisheries and N7.15 million for research into new fish species.

Additional provisions include N14 million for fisheries and aquaculture technology development and N7.18 million for research on economic trees for pond shading and the promotion of soybean and groundnut as fish feed ingredients.

The budget allocation also supports extensive skills acquisition programmes, with N56 million for youth training in fish cage culture in Ojodu, Lagos; N52.5 million each for fish-cum-poultry farming in Onigbongbo, Lagos, and training on modern fishing gear in Ogun State; N63 million for youth skills acquisition across the fisheries value chain in Oregun and N56 million for fish farm development and manpower training in Ikeja.

At the ministry headquarters level, targeted funding was provided to strengthen fisheries infrastructure, regulation and support for fish farmers and artisanal fishermen.

This includes N145.15 million for the construction of local fish feed mills across the six geopolitical zones, each with a 10-tonne capacity, N106.38 million for post-harvest infrastructure for fisheries and aquaculture to reduce losses, and N1.05 billion for the development of fish terminals and harbours.

Further Federal Government allocations cover N273 million for patrol boats and trawlers for monitoring, control and surveillance; N130.4 million for boats, nets, floats and weighing scales for fishermen; and N106.8 million for the procurement and distribution of fish feed, juveniles and collapsible or fibreglass tanks in three geopolitical zones.

The government’s budget also provides N83.8 million for the production of fish seedlings and juveniles, N31.9 million for the fishing vessel monitoring centre maintenance, N144.9 million for the marine survey and stock assessment and N21.5 million for the national programme on genetically improved farmed tilapia across six zones.

Other provisions in the budget include N14 million for inland and brackish-water fisheries surveys and data collection, N48.7 million for international cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture development, and N43.6 million for the National Fisheries Development Council.

The allocations also provide N49.1 million for statutory contributions to regional and international fisheries organisations, including international/regional fisheries monitoring organisations (RFMO), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Intergovernmental Organisation for Information and Cooperation on Fishery Products Marketing in Africa (INFOPECHE) and Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO).

An additional N14.4 million was earmarked for stakeholder engagement and the implementation of regulated fishing seasons in artisanal and marine fisheries.