With Nigeria meeting only about 30 per cent of its annual fish demand through local production, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has pledged to end the country’s dependence on fish importation by significantly boosting domestic output.

Speaking on Wednesday at a high-level consultative meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, Oyetola unveiled a bold vision to transform Nigeria’s aquaculture sector into a driver of food security, job creation, and export competitiveness.

“Nigeria must chart a new course toward self-sufficiency in fish production,” the minister declared, assuring stakeholders of the Federal Government’s unwavering support through policy reforms, technical assistance, and financial inclusion.

“We will scale up domestic fish production, reduce import dependency, and reposition the sector for sustainable growth,” he affirmed.

The meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, brought together key stakeholders, including leaders from the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Women in Fish Farming and Aquaculture, and the Practicing Farmers Association of Nigeria.

Oyetola announced that the ministry is increasing support for women and youth in the fisheries sector, disclosing that start-up grants and empowerment initiatives are in the pipeline. He linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth engagement and economic diversification.

“Increasing youth participation in aquaculture is not only essential for boosting food production but also a strategic tool for addressing unemployment,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that women and young people are fully included in this transformation.”

During an interactive session, participants highlighted critical challenges confronting the sector, including overfishing, environmental degradation, limited access to affordable finance, post-harvest losses, inadequate cold storage, poor transport and market access, low youth involvement, multiple taxation by local councils, and the rising cost of imported fish feed.

In response, Oyetola assured attendees that the ministry is already engaging stakeholders—both domestic and international—to tackle these constraints. He revealed that discussions are underway with the World Bank to provide financial support for fish farmers, while the Ministry is also working with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to offer affordable insurance coverage across the sector.

“We are also in talks with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to replicate the successful aquaculture model at the Oyan Dam in other parts of the country,” he said, stressing the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration for long-term success.

“This meeting is not the end — it is the beginning of a sustained and transformative dialogue,” he added.

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oloruntola noted that the gathering fulfilled a promise made by the minister during the ministry’s second-quarter stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos on July 3.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with cooperative societies to drive inclusive sectoral growth.

Also speaking, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, underscored the need to strengthen institutional frameworks and adopt enterprise-driven models to improve productivity and attract investment.

Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, in the statement, said participants hailed the consultative forum as timely and long overdue, expressing optimism that the engagement would yield tangible results.