The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has announced a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s aquaculture sub-sector, revealing that the country recorded an increase of 300,000 metric tonnes in fish production in 2025.
This development marks the first time in over a decade that Nigeria has witnessed such a rise in local fish output, signalling a major shift towards self-sufficiency in food production.
Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
He described the growth as a direct result of the Minister’s strategic interventions aimed at reducing Nigeria’s heavy reliance on fish importation.
According to Akinola, the surge in production is not just a statistical milestone but a testament to the administration’s determination to boost food security, create employment, and enhance value across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
“We recorded an increase of 300,000 metric tonnes in fish production in 2025, the first such rise in over a decade,” Akinola stated. “This is a clear testament to the Minister’s determination to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the country’s heavy dependence on fish importation.”
The growth in the fisheries sector is anchored on the wider National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025.
Akinola explained that this policy the first of its kind in Nigeria provides a unified roadmap that integrates fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and marine tourism. By eliminating policy fragmentation, the framework has provided the necessary regulatory clarity to attract investment into the sector.
The Special Adviser noted that the policy creates a coherent strategy for harnessing Nigeria’s marine resources, ensuring that the gains in fish production are sustainable and environmentally responsible.
While the growth in fish production stands out as a major win for food security, Akinola highlighted that it was part of a broader success story in 2025 where several stubborn jinxes in the maritime sector were broken.
He listed the resolution of the Apapa gridlock, Nigeria’s return to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14-year absence, and the commencement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) disbursement as key enablers that have restored investor confidence in the blue economy.
Looking ahead, Akinola assured stakeholders that Minister Oyetola remains committed to pursuing policies that will further boost fish production and support indigenous operators to compete effectively.
“With long-standing constraints now dismantled, the sector is poised for accelerated growth as Minister Oyetola builds on the gains already recorded to deliver even greater outcomes in the years ahead,” he added.
