Nigeria Now Produces 1.4m Metric Tons Of Fish Yearly — Oyetola

Minister of marine and blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said local fish production has increased from 1.1 million metric tons to 1.4 million metric tons this year.

Oyetola noted that the ministry and its agencies were working deliberately and with unique urgency to boost local fish production, reduce Nigeria’a dependence on imports, and strengthen food security.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the 4th Quarter 2025 Citizens/Stakeholder’s Meeting, the minister said: “I am pleased to report that local fish production has increased from 1.1 million metric tons to 1.4 million metric tons so far this year. While this is still a far cry from the 3.6 million tons consumed annually, the progress reflects targeted interventions to strengthen local capacity, to improve coordination, development of appropriate technologies, and better sectorial planning.

“The ministry has also commenced engagements with relevant financial institutions to facilitate single-digit interest loans for fish farmers across the country. This initiative is designed to expand assets to affordable finance, empower artisanal and industrial operators, boost productivity, and support our broader efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or regulated fishing in Nigerian waters.”

The minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to repositioning fisheries and aquaculture as key drivers of economic diversification, job creation, and food security.

According to him, “The growth recorded in the fisheries and aquaculture subsector reflects targeted interventions by the federal government aimed at strengthening local capacity, improving coordination, deploying appropriate technologies, and enhancing sectoral planning.

“In the area of fisheries and aquaculture, we are working deliberately and with unique agency to boost local fish production, reduce our dependence on imports, and strengthen food security. I’m pleased to report that local fish production has increased from 1.1 million metric tons to 1.4 million metric tons so far this year.”

He assured stakeholders that the ministry would continue to deepen reforms, strengthen institutions, and create an enabling environment for sustained private sector participation across the marine and blue economy value chain.

In his goodwill message, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, reiterated federal government’s commitment to positioning Nigeria’s marine and blue economy for increased investment, innovation and expansion.

According to him, the meeting’s theme — Positioning Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion – reflects the administration’s determination to move the sector to the next level following the adoption of key policies.

He also stated that the participation of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) at the meeting was a strategic move to deepen Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sector, adding, “such collaborations are critical to attracting investment and accelerating growth.”

He maintained that as the year draws to a close, stakeholders were renewing efforts to strengthen the marine and blue economy as a viable alternative to Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on oil revenues.