Stakeholders in the marine and blue economy sector gathered in Abuja to validate the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2025-2029). The policy, which aims to drive sustainable development in the fisheries and aquaculture industry, was presented by Prof. Anthony Onoja, Team Lead of the Policy Writing Committee and President of the Agricultural Policy Research Network (APRNet).
Prof. Onoja outlined the policy’s three primary objectives:
Ensuring sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture for nutrition and food security.
Optimizing the use and conservation of human and natural resources to achieve self-sufficiency, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability in fish production.
Promoting inclusive and sustainable livelihoods, wealth creation, and poverty reduction.
Speaking at the event, the Honorable Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, officially declared the validation session open. He commended the efforts of the CGIAR Initiative on Aquatic Food Systems for funding the policy drafting process in collaboration with the Nigerian Government.
“The primary goal of this policy is to enhance sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture production in Nigeria, ensuring a reliable supply of nutritious food for our growing population,” Minister Oyetola stated.
A significant target of the policy is to increase aquaculture production by approximately one million metric tons over the next five years.
The policy results from collaborative efforts between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with Prof. Onoja leading the drafting team.
This milestone marks a step forward in addressing food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development in Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
