Oyetola Inaugurates Committee To Boost Fish Production, Cut Imports

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a technical committee to accelerate fish production in Nigeria and reduce the country’s dependence on fish imports.

Oyetola inaugurated the committee in Abuja with a mandate to translate recommendations on boosting domestic fish production into practical and measurable actions.

“Fish is a vital source of animal protein for millions of Nigerians and supports livelihoods across production, processing, marketing and transportation.

Yet, domestic production remains below national demand,” Oyetola said.

He said the committee would review recommendations from the 2025 NIPSS Strategic Roundtable on accelerating fish production and develop a prioritised implementation roadmap aligned with existing policies, laws and government programmes.

“Our focus is on practical solutions to the challenges confronting the sector, including high feed costs, access to quality seed and broodstock, fish health, post-harvest losses, cold-chain infrastructure, affordable finance, research, data and market development,” he said.

Oyetola said the committee would also identify opportunities for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships and development finance, while ensuring that existing initiatives were strengthened and duplication avoided.

He charged the committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Fatima Sugra Mahmood, to approach the assignment “with urgency, objectivity and a clear focus on results.”

“We are committed to increasing sustainable domestic fish production, strengthening the fisheries and aquaculture value chain, creating jobs, improving food security and progressively reducing Nigeria’s dependence on fish imports,” the minister said.

Oyetola said the committee had eight weeks to submit its report and implementation roadmap.