A fisheries expert, Dr. Olukayode Olubiyi, has warned that Nigeria’s inconsistent fish import policies are hurting efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and conserve foreign exchange by giving imported fish an advantage over locally produced varieties.
Olubiyi, who is the Chief Lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, said the policy uncertainty is discouraging investment in aquaculture, reducing domestic fish production and increasing the country’s dependence on imported fish despite its production potential.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, he argued that Nigeria is capable of producing a large share of the fish consumed locally but continues to weaken the sector by allowing the importation of fish species that can be farmed within the country.
He identified tilapia, catfish and pangasius as species whose continued importation places local fish farmers at a competitive disadvantage. According to him, while Nigerian farmers spend six to seven months raising fish, importers are able to bring in large quantities within weeks and sell them at lower prices.
Olubiyi said the frequent changes in government policy have created uncertainty that discourages investors from expanding aquaculture operations, noting that support for local production is often followed by a reopening of the market to imports.
He urged the government to limit fish imports to species that cannot be produced under Nigeria’s tropical climate, such as salmon and cod, while prioritising the local production of fish species in which the country has a comparative advantage.
The fisheries expert also cautioned that continued dependence on imported fish contributes to capital flight and leads to the loss of employment opportunities that could be generated within Nigeria.
