The Federal Authorities has pledged to finish Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on fish importation by considerably scaling up home fish manufacturing, in a renewed push to strengthen meals safety, create jobs, and enhance non-oil exports.
Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, made this recognized on Wednesday at a consultative assembly with leaders of fisheries cooperative teams in Abuja.
The assembly, convened by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economic system is a part of ongoing efforts to reposition the nation’s aquaculture and fisheries subsector.
“Nigeria should chart a brand new course in direction of self-sufficiency in fish manufacturing. We’ll scale up home fish manufacturing, scale back dependency on imports, and reposition the sector for sustainable development,” he stated.
Learn additionally: FG, FAO partner to boost fish production in Nigeria
Oyetola acknowledged, including that the Authorities is totally dedicated to supporting the sector via coverage innovation, technical help, and monetary inclusion.
He emphasised that the Federal Authorities would aggressively scale up native fish manufacturing, scale back import dependency, and remodel the sector right into a key driver of sustainable financial development.
The session introduced collectively main stakeholders, together with the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Tilapia Aquaculture Builders Affiliation of Nigeria (TADAN), Catfish Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria (CAFAN), Girls in Fish Farming and Aquaculture, and the Practising Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria.
In an announcement signed by Bolaji Akinola, Particular Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Oyetola famous that the Ministry is intensifying efforts to help youths and girls in aquaculture.
He acknowledged that empowerment initiatives, together with start-up grants, had been being developed to spice up participation and productiveness according to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Growing youth participation in aquaculture isn’t solely important for meals manufacturing but in addition a strategic resolution to lowering unemployment. We’re dedicated to making sure that younger folks and girls will not be left behind on this transformation,” he famous
Stakeholders on the assembly raised a variety of challenges plaguing the sector, together with overfishing, poor entry to finance, insufficient chilly storage, excessive value of imported fish feed, weak transportation networks, a number of taxation, and low youth involvement.
Learn additionally: Lagos bets big on N10bn aquaculture centre to boost fish production
In response, Oyetola assured individuals that the Ministry is actively participating each native and worldwide companions to deal with these points.
He stated that discussions are ongoing with the World Financial institution to safe funding help for fish farmers and with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance coverage Company (NAIC) to make sure accessible and inexpensive insurance coverage protection.
The Minister additionally famous plans to copy the profitable aquaculture mannequin on the Oyan Dam throughout different areas in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Sources, stressing the significance of inter-ministerial collaboration.
“This assembly isn’t the top, it’s the starting of a sustained and transformative dialogue,” he stated.
Wellington Omoragbon, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, additionally highlighted the necessity for strengthened institutional frameworks and enterprise-driven approaches to draw funding and enhance productiveness.
