The Federal Government has unveiled plans to gradually ban fish importation in a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s local aquaculture industry, enhance food security, and create jobs, particularly for youth and women.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with Fisheries Cooperative Groups in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving fish self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on foreign imports.
“We are charting a new course toward sustainable fish production. Our goal is to build a robust, competitive local industry that drives food security, job creation, and export earnings,” Oyetola said.
He revealed that strategic policies are already being implemented in collaboration with stakeholders to expand capacity across the fisheries value chain.
Youth and women, he noted, will be key beneficiaries of targeted empowerment programs aimed at boosting production and reducing unemployment.
The ministry is also in talks with the World Bank to secure financial support for fish farmers and is working with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to provide affordable insurance coverage for industry players.
Oyetola added that efforts are underway to replicate successful aquaculture models, like the one at Oyan Dam, across other parts of the country in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources.
“This is just the beginning. We are committed to resolving the challenges in this sector through collaboration, planning, and strong inter-ministerial coordination,” he assured.
Olufemi Oloruntola, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, also pledged continued support for cooperative societies to ensure inclusive growth within the sector.
Meanwhile, Mashi Sani, President of the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), presented a proposal for a N75 billion initiative—the Sustainable Livelihoods and Fish Food Security Initiative (SLESI). The three-year plan aims to create one million jobs, reduce post-harvest losses by 50%, and boost national fish production by 35%.
Sani emphasized the vital role of fisheries in food security and rural livelihoods but identified persistent challenges, including overfishing, poor infrastructure, limited access to credit, and weak technical support.
He urged the government to adopt and fund the SLESI proposal, stressing the need to address bottlenecks in transportation, market access, and extension services to fully unlock Nigeria’s blue economy potential.
