Nigeria Forms Committee to Boost Fish Production and Cut Imports

On Thursday, the Federal Government of Nigeria inaugurated a 17-member Technical Committee on Accelerating Fish Production, led by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Abuja. The committee's purpose is to tackle the country's fish production deficit, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance the aquaculture value chain.

Oyetola emphasized the importance of fish as a source of animal protein and the sector's role in sustaining livelihoods. He identified challenges such as high production costs, inadequate access to quality fish seed, weak biosecurity systems, and insufficient infrastructure.

The committee is tasked with developing a coordinated implementation roadmap based on recommendations from a strategic roundtable held on October 29, 2025, in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. Oyetola instructed the committee to assess the roundtable report against existing policies and mandates, ensuring that their work does not create parallel programs but rather strengthens the existing framework for fish production in Nigeria.