L-R: Representative of the Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), Mr. Hassan Mundu; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON; Acting President, Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Mr. Mashi Gabriel Sani; Secretary, Abuja Women in Fish Farming and Aquaculture, Mrs. Ekomabasi Uwem and President, Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Mr. Onoja Sunday Musa when Oyetola hosted an interactive session with fisheries cooperatives groups in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, has vowed to end Nigeria’s dependence on fish importation by aggressively boosting local fish production.
Oyetola disclosed this at a high-level consultative meeting with fisheries cooperative groups in Abuja, where he outlined a bold vision aimed at transforming the nation’s aquaculture sector into a powerhouse of food security, employment, and export competitiveness.
“Nigeria must chart a new course towards self-sufficiency in fish production”, Oyetola declared, emphasising that the federal government is fully committed to supporting the fisheries and aquaculture subsector through policy, technical support, and financial inclusion. “We will scale up domestic fish production, reduce dependency on imports, and reposition the sector for sustainable growth”, he said.
The Minister announced that the Ministry is intensifying efforts to support women and youth in the fishing sector, stating that start-up grants and other empowerment initiatives are already in the pipeline. This move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth engagement and economic diversification.
“Increasing youth participation in aquaculture is not only vital for food production but also a strategic solution to reducing unemployment,” Oyetola said. “We are committed to ensuring that young people and women are not left behind in this transformation”.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON (left) receiving a presentation from the Acting President, Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Mr. Mashi Gabriel Sani, at an interactive session.
The meeting, attended by leaders and members of major fisheries and aquaculture associations, discussed pressing challenges facing the sector, including overfishing, environmental degradation, lack of access to affordable finance, and multiple taxation by local government authorities. He assured that the Ministry is already engaging stakeholders to tackle these issues head-on and is in talks with the World Bank to secure financial support for fish farmers.
The Minister also revealed that the Ministry will collaborate with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation to ensure affordable and accessible insurance coverage for fish farmers across the country. “This meeting is not the end, it is the beginning of a sustained and transformative dialogue”, he assured, expressing optimism about Nigeria’s potential to become self-sufficient in fish production and a net exporter of fish in the near future.