Nigeria imports $1.2B fish annually for 2.5m deficit, says ActionAid

Nigeria’s fish import bill stands at a staggering $1.2 billion annually, a situation exacerbated by a 2.5 million-tons deficit in local fish production by ActionAid Nigeria.

This was revealed by the Coordinator, Food and Agriculture Programme ActionAid, Mr. Azubike Okoye at the commissioning of the fish juvenile centre in Cross River, Calabar recently. 

Mr. Azubike Okoye highlighted the growing imbalance between domestic demand and local supply at a deficit of 2.5 million metric tons put together at $1.2 billion annually, saying it has become a continuous strain on the nation’s economy. 

According to him "The situation is alarming. Nigeria is one of the top fish consumers in Africa, but we are importing over 60% of our fish needs at an annual cost of $1.2 billion.This reliance on imports is not just a strain on our foreign exchange reserves, it also weakens local fisheries and agriculture, depriving local fishers of a market and preventing the sector from reaching its full potential".

 He pointed several factors to Nigeria's fish production deficit as overfishing, inadequate infrastructure, poor regulatory oversight, and the depletion of fish stocks in the nation’s waters adding that the country’s small-scale fishers are particularly vulnerable to all these challenges. He added that climate change and environmental degradation have further negatively impacted fish stocks, while the cost of locally produced fish remains high due to aforementioned production challenges. 

Okoye called on the Government to adopt policies that will enhance local fish production with the new model centre and support small-scale to fishermen just as he urged for investments in sustainable fisheries practices, such as aquaculture, improved fishing technologies, and better access to credit facilities. Okoye however stressed the need for stronger regulation of the fishing industry to prevent illegal practices that could deplete local stocks. 

"We need a robust, diversified approach to the fisheries sector. This includes improving our aquaculture capacity, empowering local communities, and strengthening policies that could promote sustainable fishing".

He argued that the $1.2 billion spent on fish imports could be channeled into developing the country’s fisheries sector thereby creating a more resilient food system and reducing the trade deficit with job creation cum enhancing the GDP.