The Federal Government has concluded plans to partner with the World Bank, research institutions, and coastal communities to promote innovation, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance data-driven planning for fisheries and aquaculture development.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola who disclosed this in Lagos, said efforts are also being directed towards strengthening the cold chain system, promoting value addition through fish processing and packaging, improving access to quality feed and seed, developing functional hatcheries, expanding extension services, and facilitating access to finance for fish farmers and entrepreneurs.
In his keynote during a one-day interactive seminar between Stakeholders and Regulatory Authorities involved in Stockfish and Seafood Import and Export Trade in Nigeria organized by the Norwegian Seafood Council and the Norwegian government in Lagos, he said the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy recognizes the importance of seafood trade not only as an economic activity but also as a source of animal protein and a driver of industrial linkages.
“The seafood sector connects production, processing, storage, transportation, and marketing, thereby creating a comprehensive value chain that sustains livelihoods and supports national economic objectives.
“The Ministry is partnering with development partners such as World Bank, research institutions, and coastal communities to promote innovation, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance data-driven planning for fisheries and aquaculture development. In addition, the Ministry is also working to ensure that fish is affordable and available for the ordinary Nigerian.
“The Ministry is equally working towards streamlining seafood import and export processes, thereby reducing administrative bottlenecks, and ensuring regulatory harmony through collaboration with relevant agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, as well as through the National Single Window platform and the digitalization of the entire fisheries and aquaculture processes,” he said.
Under the Blue Economy framework, government he said is implementing measures to strengthen monitoring, control, and surveillance systems to address Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing; promote private sector investment in aquaculture and fisheries infrastructure; upgrade fish handling, processing, and certification systems to meet international export standards; and enhance collaboration with international partners on research, innovation, and digitalization of fisheries management.
Oyetola acknowledged the fact that the government alone cannot achieve all the goals, underscoring the need for partnership. “Stakeholders must continue to cooperate with regulatory authorities, comply with established standards, and support the implementation of government policies and programmes. I encourage all stakeholders to freely express their concerns and share practical suggestions that will enable Government to address existing challenges and strengthen the regulatory environment.
“I reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to the development of a sustainable, efficient, and inclusive seafood value chain that will contribute to national food security, employment generation, and economic growth. Working together, we can transform Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector into a globally competitive industry that not only feeds our people but also advances the national Blue Economy,” he said.
Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Svien Baera, renewed the call for the inclusion of stockfish and its head in the list of goods with zero import duty to make it affordable in the country.
Baera urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the sustainability of the sector through the zero import duties on stockfish due to the low quota of cod (the primary fish for stockfish) and its subsequent price increase fundamentally due to the forces and demand and supply.
The Norwegian envoy said Nigeria remained one of its largest markets in the world, adding that government intervention would help drive affordability among the large consuming population.
“Nigeria is consistently one of the largest importers of Norwegian stockfish in the world. It is an important part of the Nigerian kitchen.
“What started as a trade relationship many decades ago has now grown into something mutually beneficial. This is not just a story of commerce; it is a story of cultural exchange.
“Both our nations share a strong commitment to sustainability to ensure that our oceans continue to provide for generations to come.
“As part of this responsible approach, we have in recent years seen a reduction in cod quotas, reflecting the need to protect fish stocks and support long-term marine health.
“Unfortunately, this necessary reduction has led to increased prices for both stockfish and stockfish heads, impacting both producers and consumers.
“Hence, we respectfully appeal once again for zero import duty on stockfish heads as a meaningful step towards ensuring continued accessibility and affordability for Nigerian consumers,” Baera said.
Also speaking on the occasion, both the Director of Africa, Norwegian Seafood Council, Mr Johnny Haaberg, and Fisheries Consultant to Norwegian Seafood Council, Ms. Abiodun Oritsjemine Cheke also supported the envoy’s call for zero-duty on the importation of fish head to promote the health of Nigerians.
“We try to share our knowledge about aquaculture and management of fisheries, also with Nigeria, and we have been doing that for many years, and we think the cooperation is very good.
“We have been raising the issue of zero duties for stockfish imports because we think the Nigerian consumers deserve better access to cheaper stockfish heads.
“Actually, we would wish to have more stockfish heads and stockfish at a good price to offer to the Nigerian market.
“But because of the lowering of our quotas, the exporters that are here, they sell everything they have, and they are not able to access more,” Haaberg said.
Ms. Cheke said Norway is ready to increase the training of local fish farmers in the country to increase local export opportunities.
“In the coming year, we will embark on the training of fish farmers and government officers in fisheries in the sustainability aspect and the documentation aspect of the trade.
“Nigeria’s product is banned from international trade simply because of documentation, sustainability and quality assurance.
“So, with this, we intend to leverage it to complement the last training we did for the fish farmers and fisheries officers.
“And we are also appealing to the federal government that stockfish, especially the heads, is for everybody and is about the cheapest protein in Nigeria.
“Stockfish heads should be placed on zero per cent import duties for a 150-day period, like the other staple foods. We are also praying for our appeal on zero per cent to be heard and for stockfish heads,” Cheke said.
