The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has approved the digitisation of Nigeria’s fish import licensing process in a landmark policy move aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and regulatory oversight within the nation’s fisheries sector.

Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, disclosed in a statement that the Minister has  directed the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to expedite action towards the swift implementation of the digital platform, signalling the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to modernising marine administration while strengthening domestic fish production capacity.

The initiative strongly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification, food security, job creation and institutional reform as central pillars of national development.

Dr Oyetola emphasised that the initiative represents a critical reform designed to reposition Nigeria’s fisheries sector for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

He stated that The digitisation of fish import licensing is a major step towards eliminating administrative bottlenecks, improving transparency and ensuring that our regulatory processes align with global best practices. This reform will not only simplify procedures for genuine operators but will also strengthen government oversight, promote accountability and support our broader objective of boosting local fish production,” the Minister said.

The approval represents a significant step in the ongoing reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which seeks to deploy technology-driven solutions to improve governance, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and promote accountability across the fisheries value chain.

The transition from manual licensing procedures to a digital system is expected to streamline application processes, minimise delays, eliminate duplications and drastically reduce opportunities for human interference and administrative inefficiencies. By introducing an automated licensing framework, the Ministry is positioning Nigeria’s fisheries management system to align with global best practices in maritime and aquatic resource administration.

When completed, the digitisation initiative will provide real-time data monitoring capabilities, enabling the Ministry to accurately track import volumes, evaluate supply gaps and implement evidence-based policy decisions. Improved data analytics will support more strategic planning for Nigeria’s fisheries sector, ensuring that import licences are granted in a manner that reflects national food security priorities while protecting local producers from unfair competition.

The digital system is also expected to strengthen regulatory compliance by ensuring that only qualified and duly registered importers receive licences, thereby curbing illegal and unregulated importation activities that have historically undermined local aquaculture investments.

Dr Oyetola stressed that the reform is fundamentally linked to the Ministry’s commitment to revitalising domestic production. According to him, “Nigeria has enormous potential to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production, and we must create policies that encourage investment in local aquaculture while responsibly managing importation.”

“Our goal is to progressively reduce dependence on imported fish by strengthening local capacity, creating jobs and supporting Nigerian fish farmers to thrive in a more competitive and well-regulated environment,” he said.

The Minister’s directive is closely aligned with his broader vision to boost indigenous fish production and reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported fish products. Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest consumers of fish, with demand consistently outpacing local supply. The Honourable Minister has repeatedly emphasised the urgent need to bridge this production gap through strategic investment in aquaculture, enhanced fisheries management and the creation of enabling policies that encourage private sector participation.
The digitisation of fish import licensing is expected to serve as a critical regulatory tool that supports this objective by ensuring that importation does not stifle the growth of domestic producers.