Get Guardian on GoogleWith Nigeria meeting only about 30 per cent of its yearly 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 boosting domestic output.
Speaking yesterday at a consultative meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, Oyetola unveiled a 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.
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.
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 was already engaging stakeholders, both domestic and international, to tackle the constraints.
In his welcome address, the 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.
In his remarks, 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.
