Nigeria Imports 2m Tonnes of Fish Annually

Nigeria Imports 2m Tonnes Of Fish Annually

Nigeria imports about two million metric tonnes of fish annually to bridge the gap between domestic production and consumption, a maritime consultant has said.

Trade consultant and Chief Consulting Officer of Port Protocols Limited, Dera Nnadi, disclosed this at the National Conference on Sustainable Fishing organised by the Maritime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos.

Nnadi, a former Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, said Nigerians consume over three million metric tonnes of fish annually, leaving a deficit of about two million tonnes met through imports.

He said Nigeria’s fish economy extends beyond food, noting the country has more than 18 special species of ornamental fish exported abroad, and estimated the sector’s value at about N25 trillion.

He urged stakeholders to focus on the blue economy and ensure recommendations from the conference are translated into government action.

Also speaking, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, announced plans to develop a specialised fishing port under a Public-Private Partnership model to expand the fishing sub-sector.

Dantsoho, represented by Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Planning, Adegbite Adewumi, said KLT has been designated as a dedicated fish terminal with cold-room facilities, alongside a dedicated export processing terminal and improved hinterland connectivity.

He said major container terminals have reefer facilities for perishables, while 24-hour vessel berthing is ongoing at western ports, with operators like APM Terminals, GDNL and ABMT handling cargo round-the-clock.

He listed breakwaters, quays, slipways, shipyards, ice plants, cold storage, processing plants and logistics networks as critical infrastructure needed to support safe vessel operations and preservation of seafood.