Nigeria Loses Over N100billion To Fish Import Yearly

Nigeria loses over N100 billion annually to fish imports, National President, Fisheries Cooperatives Federation of Nigeria, FCFNL, Anthony Ashage has revealed.

Ashage, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Cooperative in Abuja, explained that the crash of the Nigerian Industrial fishery sub-sector has resulted in the loss of over 100,000 jobs and cost the nation over $50 million in foreign exchange.

According to him, FCFNL believes that with Nigeria’s natural endowment, the nation can achieve self-reliance in domestic fish production.

“We also believe that with the right policy and incentives, Nigeria can stop fish importation, conserve over N100 billion annual fish import bills and become a net fish exporter, as well as earn significant foreign exchange as it is the case with many emerging economies of the world,” he said.

He said the aim of the FCFNL which is the apex of artisanal fisheries cooperative movement in Nigeria, is to mobilise and sensitise the fishery folks in Nigeria into cooperative settings in order to complement government efforts in ensuring fish security to the nation as well as promoting cooperative investment among members so that the nation can protect the sub sector which is important to help in alleviating the challenges that Nigeria is going through, particularly in terms of food security, poverty reduction, unemployment, wealth creation and so on.

Ashage, however expressed concern that despite the comparative advantage of fishery over crops and livestock, “the sector is completely neglected; government’s efforts in the past had failed because the target groups were not being carried along. We want the attention of the government so that we can turn around the dwindling economy of the nation through fisheries.”

To this end, he  called on the Buhari-led government to support the sub sector through the Gross Enhancement Support Scheme, GESS.