FG Moves to End Fish Importation, Unveils Plan to Strengthen Local Production in Fisheries Sector
In a bold push towards economic diversification and food self-sufficiency, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared its intention to end the country’s long-standing dependence on fish importation. This move, announced by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, signals a sweeping reform agenda aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s aquaculture and fisheries industry as a key driver of national development, food security, and youth empowerment.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, Oyetola laid out the federal government’s vision for the sector: a Nigeria where domestic fish production not only meets local consumption needs but also contributes significantly to job creation, exports, and rural development.
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“The Federal Government is fully committed to supporting the fisheries and aquaculture subsector through policy, technical support, and financial inclusion,” Oyetola said, reiterating the administration’s firm stance on prioritizing local production over foreign dependence.
He continued:
“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’s remarks come amid rising food prices, forex challenges, and renewed urgency to plug the country’s trade deficits. With over 2 million metric tonnes of fish consumed annually, Nigeria remains one of the largest importers of frozen fish in Africa—a position the government now views as economically untenable and strategically unwise.
Sectoral Reform: A Multi-Stakeholder Vision
The Abuja meeting brought together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s aquatic value chain, including:
- 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
- Practicing Farmers Association of Nigeria
These stakeholders form the critical grassroots backbone of Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture ecosystem. According to Oyetola, their full participation is essential to the ministry’s vision of reforming the sector “from bottom to top.”
The Minister emphasized the importance of collaborative synergy between federal institutions, private investors, community cooperatives, and international partners. He also pointed to the government’s growing commitment to investing in processing infrastructure, fish feed production, improved broodstock, cold chain logistics, and research innovation as pillars for long-term transformation.
One of the standout aspects of Oyetola’s reform plan is the focus on inclusive participation—particularly the empowerment of women and youth in the aquaculture value chain.
“Increasing youth participation in aquaculture is not only vital for food production but also a strategic solution to reducing unemployment,” the Minister stated. “We are committed to ensuring that young people and women are not left behind in this transformation.”
Already, the Ministry has begun rolling out targeted initiatives aimed at supporting women-led aquaculture cooperatives and young entrepreneurs. These include access to soft loans, technical training, market facilitation, and start-up grants for sustainable fish farming ventures.
This emphasis aligns with global best practices that link blue economy development with gender equality and youth employment, especially in emerging economies with large rural populations and underutilized inland water resources.
The meeting served as a follow-up to the Ministry’s Second Quarter Stakeholder and Citizens’ Engagement held in Lagos on July 3, 2025. Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, reaffirmed the government’s resolve to act on its promises.
“Today’s meeting is in fulfillment of the commitments we made to stakeholders earlier this month. We want to assure you that the Ministry is ready to build sustainable partnerships that can drive inclusive growth and deliver tangible results across the country.”
Oloruntola further emphasized that policy clarity, consistent stakeholder engagement, and data-driven implementation strategies will be the backbone of the sector’s reform. He added that fish farmers, marketers, processors, and exporters will all benefit from the renewed national direction once bottlenecks like import policy loopholes and financing gaps are addressed.
Despite the optimism and political will behind the government’s drive, stakeholders acknowledge the major structural challenges that must be addressed:
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Lack of cold storage, poor transportation, and unreliable electricity continue to hamper production and distribution.
- Import Dependency: Nigeria currently imports more than 45% of its fish, mostly frozen mackerel, sardines, and stockfish, placing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
- Weak Extension Services: Many local fish farmers lack access to updated knowledge, hatchery management skills, and disease control measures, leading to high mortality rates and poor yields.
- Unregulated Markets: The local fish market remains highly informal, with inconsistent pricing, limited processing facilities, and minimal enforcement of quality standards.
- Environmental Stress: Pollution, illegal fishing, and climate-related changes in inland and coastal ecosystems pose long-term threats to aquatic biodiversity and fish stocks.
Addressing these issues, the Ministry says, will require a mix of federal and state collaboration, private sector investment, donor support, and policy continuity across political administrations.
Minister Oyetola announced that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has set up a special inter-agency working group to develop a National Fish Production Enhancement Strategy (NFPES), which will be unveiled later this year. This strategy will map Nigeria’s aquaculture clusters, establish fish production targets, incentivize investment in fish hatcheries and feed mills, and create zonal innovation hubs for fisheries research and extension services.
Furthermore, the Ministry plans to revise existing laws regulating the fisheries sector to improve compliance, resource conservation, and private sector confidence. A review of the National Fisheries Policy is also underway, which will incorporate sustainability targets and community-based fishery management models.
Nigeria’s effort to localize fish production comes at a time when African nations are being urged to unlock the potential of their blue economies. According to the African Union, the continent’s waters—spanning oceans, rivers, and lakes—could generate $405 billion annually and create over 60 million jobs if properly harnessed.
Nigeria, with its vast freshwater and marine ecosystems, has the potential to become West Africa’s aquaculture hub—provided it strengthens governance, curbs smuggling, and improves competitiveness.
Global examples also offer lessons. Countries like Egypt, Bangladesh, and Indonesia have successfully grown their aquaculture sectors through a mix of infrastructure investment, research, cooperative financing, and strategic export support. These models are being closely studied by Nigerian policymakers.
The Federal Government’s decision to end fish importation marks a historic policy pivot that could radically reshape Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. By focusing on local capacity building, inclusive growth, and private sector incentives, the Oyetola-led Ministry aims to transform Nigeria into a self-sustaining aquaculture powerhouse.
However, the road to self-sufficiency will require more than good intentions—it will demand coordinated implementation, strong monitoring systems, and continuous stakeholder engagement at all levels.
If successful, the policy could not only close the supply-demand gap in fish consumption but also unlock a cascade of social and economic benefits—from food security to rural development, forex conservation, and youth employment.