Oyetola Sets Up Committee to Boost Nigeria’s Fish Production

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a technical committee to address challenges affecting fish production and strengthen Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Oyetola inaugurated the Technical Committee on Accelerating Fish Production in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

He tasked the committee with developing practical and coordinated measures that can deliver measurable improvements in fish production, rather than producing another policy document.

The minister identified high production costs, rising fish-feed prices, poor access to quality fish seed and broodstock, weak fish-health and biosecurity systems, post-harvest losses and inadequate cold-chain facilities as major challenges.

He also listed limited access to affordable financing and gaps in research and innovation among the issues affecting the sector.

Oyetola said the transfer of fisheries and aquaculture functions to the ministry provides a stronger platform to address these challenges under the Federal Government’s blue-economy agenda.

The committee is expected to develop a roadmap covering priority actions, responsible institutions, timelines, estimated costs, funding options and performance indicators.

It will also identify opportunities for private-sector investment and public-private partnerships.

The committee, made up of government officials, academics, researchers, professional bodies and private-sector representatives, has eight weeks to submit its report.