…targets 2.5m-tonne fish supply gap
The Federal Government has approved the digitisation of Nigeria’s fish import licensing process as part of efforts to enhance transparency, efficiency and regulatory oversight in the fisheries sector, while protecting local producers and strengthening domestic aquaculture.
The approval was granted by Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who has directed the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to expedite the implementation of a digital licensing platform.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Tuesday in Abuja by Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister.
According to the statement, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification, food security, job creation and institutional reform as key pillars of national development.
Oyetola described the move as a critical reform aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s fisheries sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
“The digitisation of fish import licensing is a major step towards eliminating administrative bottlenecks, improving transparency and ensuring that our regulatory processes align with global best practices.
“This reform will not only simplify procedures for genuine operators but will also strengthen government oversight, promote accountability and support our broader objective of boosting local fish production,” the Minister said.
He noted that the reform would simplify procedures for genuine operators while strengthening government oversight, promoting accountability and supporting the broader objective of boosting local fish production.
The Minister added that the approval represents a significant milestone in the ongoing reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which seeks to deploy technology-driven solutions to improve governance, reduce bureaucratic delays and enhance accountability across the fisheries value chain.
With the transition from manual to digital licensing procedures, the Ministry expects the new system to streamline application processes, minimise delays, eliminate duplications and drastically reduce opportunities for human interference and administrative inefficiencies.
The automated licensing framework is also expected to align Nigeria’s fisheries management system with global best practices in maritime and aquatic resource administration.
When fully operational, the digital platform will provide real-time data monitoring capabilities, enabling the Ministry to accurately track fish import volumes, assess supply gaps and implement evidence-based policy decisions. Improved data analytics will support more strategic planning, ensuring that import licences are issued in line with national food security priorities while safeguarding local producers from unfair competition.
The system is further expected to strengthen regulatory compliance by ensuring that only qualified and duly registered importers are granted licences, thereby curbing illegal and unregulated importation that has historically undermined local aquaculture investments.
Oyetola stressed that the reform is closely linked to the Ministry’s commitment to revitalising domestic fish production.
“Nigeria has enormous potential to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production, and we must create policies that encourage investment in local aquaculture while responsibly managing importation.
“Our goal is to progressively reduce dependence on imported fish by strengthening local capacity, creating jobs and supporting Nigerian fish farmers to thrive in a more competitive and well-regulated environment,” Oyetola added
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest consumers of fish, with demand consistently outstripping local supply. The Minister has repeatedly emphasised the need to bridge this gap through strategic investment in aquaculture, improved fisheries management and policies that encourage private sector participation.
Fish accounts for about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s total protein intake, with estimated consumption at 13.3 kilograms per person per year. Total national fish production stands at approximately 1.07 million metric tonnes annually, comprising about 313,231 metric tonnes from aquaculture and 759,828 metric tonnes from capture fisheries.
However, national demand is estimated at 3.36 million metric tonnes, leaving a supply gap of about 2.5 million metric tonnes.
The digitisation of fish import licensing is expected to serve as a key regulatory tool in achieving this objective, ensuring that importation complements rather than stifles the growth of domestic fish production.
