Nigeria imports about two million metric tonnes of fish annually to bridge the gap between domestic production and consumption, Trade Maritime Consultant and Chief Consulting Officer of Port Protocols Limited, Dera Nnadi, has said.
Nnadi, a former Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, disclosed this at the National Conference on Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria, organised by the Maritime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos.
He said Nigerians consume more than three million metric tonnes of fish annually, leaving a deficit of about two million metric tonnes that is largely met through imports.
“For Nigerians, we are told we consume over three million metric tonnes of fish. We have a deficit of about two million imported,” Nnadi said.
He, however, said Nigeria’s fish economy extended beyond domestic consumption, noting that the country also has ornamental fish species with export potential.
According to him, Nigeria has more than 18 special species of ornamental fish that are exported, contributing to the country’s economic activity and foreign exchange earnings.
Nnadi estimated Nigeria’s fish economy at about N25 trillion, describing the figure as an indication of the sector’s importance and untapped potential.
He urged stakeholders and policymakers to pay greater attention to the blue economy and ensure that recommendations from the conference translate into concrete government policies and action.
Nnadi expressed optimism that the communiqué from the conference would be implemented to address some of the challenges confronting Nigeria’s blue economy and fishing sector.
Also speaking at the conference, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced plans to develop a specialised fishing port as part of efforts to expand the fishing industry and deepen Nigeria’s blue economy.
Dantsoho, who was represented by Adegbite Adewumi, Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Planning, said the proposed facility would expand the trade frontiers of the fishing sub-sector.
“In an effort to deepen our drive for the Blue Economy, it is important to expand the trade frontiers of the fishing sub-sector. Consequently, we need to be looking at developing a specialised Fishing Port,” he said.
He said private investors would be expected to participate in the development of the facility under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Dantsoho also disclosed that the NPA had taken steps to improve infrastructure for handling fish and other perishable cargo at Nigerian ports.
He said KLT had been designated as a dedicated fish terminal with cold-room facilities, while a dedicated export processing terminal and improved hinterland connectivity were also being provided.
The NPA boss added that major container terminals had reefer facilities for storing perishable cargo, while ongoing port modernisation was aimed at improving infrastructure and cargo-handling efficiency.
He said 24-hour vessel berthing operations were already being conducted at the western ports, while some terminal operators, including APM Terminals (APMT), GDNL and ABMT, also provide round-the-clock cargo handling and delivery.
