Stakeholders in the Marine and Blue Economy sector recently converged in Abuja to validate the National Fisheries and Aqua Culture Policy for Nigeria (2025-2029). Presenting the policy’s key elements to the diverse stakeholders, Prof. Anthony Onoja, Team Lead of the Policy Writing Committee, noted that the policy has three primary objectives.
According to the erudite scholar, who is also Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa and President of Agricultural Policy Research Network APRNet, the objectives are:
“To ensure sustainable development of fisheries and aqua culture for nutrition and food security,
To optimize human and natural resource utilization and conservation to attain self-sufficiency, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability in fish production, and
To provide inclusive and sustainable livelihoods, create wealth, and reduce poverty.”
The Honorable Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, declared the event open. He commended the CGAIR initiative on Aquatic Food Systems for funding the policy drafting process in partnership with the Nigerian Government.
“The primary goal of this policy is to enhance sustainability in fisheries and aqua culture production in Nigeria, ensuring a reliable supply of nutritious food for our growing population,” said Minister Oyetola.
A key target of the policy is to increase aqua culture production by approximately one million metric tons within the next five years.
The policy is the culmination of collaborative efforts between the International Food Policy Research Institute, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with Prof Anthony Onoja leading the draft team.
Signed,
Dominica Toruka Mrs
November 21, 2024.
