FG MOVES TO CUT FISH IMPORTS, BOOST PRODUCTION

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 17-member technical committee to accelerate fish production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fish.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, inaugurated the committee in Abuja, charging members to develop practical measures for addressing challenges across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.

Oyetola said domestic fish production remained significantly below national demand, creating pressure on food security, household incomes and the country’s foreign exchange resources.

He identified high feed costs, inadequate access to quality fish seed and broodstock, weak fish-health systems, post-harvest losses and insufficient cold-chain infrastructure as some of the major challenges facing the sector.

Other concerns include limited access to affordable financing, gaps in research and innovation, weak data systems, inadequate standards and difficulties in market development.

The minister said the committee was expected to review recommendations from a strategic roundtable held in October 2025 and convert viable proposals into a clear implementation roadmap.

The roadmap will identify priority interventions, responsible institutions, timelines, indicative costs, funding sources and performance indicators.

Oyetola also urged the committee to identify opportunities for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships and development financing while avoiding duplication of existing government programmes.

The Federal Government had previously estimated Nigeria’s annual fish requirement at 3.6 million metric tonnes, with domestic production meeting only about 38.9 per cent of demand.

The government said increasing local production would help strengthen food security, create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported fish.

The committee is expected to submit its report within eight weeks, after which the government will consider the recommended interventions for implementation.