Ministry, NIPSS partner to bridge Nigeria’s 2.2m MT fish deficit

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has partnered with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to boost local fish production and bridge Nigeria’s 2.2 million metric tonne deficit through a coordinated national policy roadmap.

Speaking at a two-day Round Table Discussion on Accelerating National Fish Production in Lagos, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, job creation, and economic diversification.

Oyetola noted that Nigeria currently produces only 38.9% of its annual fish demand of 3.6 million metric tonnes, forcing the country to depend on imports — a situation he described as unsustainable.

He said the round table would produce a National Fish Production Acceleration Roadmap to guide investments and reforms in the fisheries and aquaculture subsector, supported by ongoing efforts such as the Fisheries Bill, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, and digital reforms like the Blue Data Bank developed with the World Bank’s PROBLUE Programme.

The minister also cited initiatives such as the Green Money Project, which empowers women and youth through aquaculture training and input support.

In his remarks, NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, pledged the Institute’s support for evidence-based policies that will drive Nigeria toward fish self-sufficiency.

The two-day event, attended by stakeholders and experts, is expected to generate actionable recommendations to boost fish production, reduce imports, and strengthen sustainability in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.