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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government is considering ban on fish importation as it ramps up support for Nigeria’s aquaculture sector, with a firm pledge to boost local production and achieve self-sufficiency.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the declaration on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level consultative meeting with fisheries cooperative groups.
He described the country’s current reliance on imported fish as unsustainable and vowed to change the narrative through targeted investments and policies.
“Nigeria must chart a new course towards self-sufficiency in fish production. We will scale up domestic fish production, reduce dependency on imports, and reposition the sector for sustainable growth,” Oyetola said.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from across the aquaculture value chain, including representatives of 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.
The Minister announced plans to empower women and youth through start-up grants and other initiatives already in development.
According to him, this move is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification and youth inclusion.
“Increasing youth participation in aquaculture is not only vital for food production but also a strategic solution to reducing unemployment. We are committed to ensuring that young people and women are not left behind in this transformation,” he said.
Stakeholders at the session voiced concerns about numerous industry challenges, including overfishing, environmental degradation, lack of affordable finance, post-harvest losses, poor transportation, inadequate cold storage facilities, multiple taxation, and the surging cost of fish feed.
In response, Oyetola assured participants that the Ministry is engaging both local and international partners to tackle these issues. He revealed ongoing discussions with the World Bank for financial support and a partnership with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to provide affordable insurance for fish farmers.
“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.
“This meeting is not the end – it is the beginning of a sustained and transformative dialogue,” Oyetola added.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oloruntola, noted that the meeting fulfilled a commitment made during the Ministry’s second-quarter citizens and stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos on July 3. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to build lasting partnerships with cooperatives to drive growth.
Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, also stressed the need to strengthen institutional frameworks and adopt enterprise-driven approaches to attract investment and improve productivity.