Fed Govt to digitise fish import licences

The Federal Government has approved the digitisation of fish import licensing process in a move aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, improving efficiency and supporting the growth of local fish production within the maritime economy.

The approval was granted by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who has directed the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to immediately commence implementation of a digital platform to replace the existing manual licensing system.

The reform, according to a statement yesterday, signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr Bolaji Akinola, is part of broader efforts to modernise marine administration and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on economic diversification, food security, job creation and institutional reform.

Oyetola said the policy shift was a strategic intervention designed to reposition Nigeria’s fisheries sector for sustainable growth and improved competitiveness.

He said: “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,” he added.

Industry stakeholders say the move represents a significant milestone in the ongoing reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which has prioritised technology-driven solutions to reduce bureaucracy and improve governance across the fisheries and maritime value chain.

Under the new framework, fish import licence applications will be processed electronically, a transition expected to streamline procedures, minimise delays, eliminate duplication and significantly reduce opportunities for human interference and administrative inefficiencies.

The ministry noted that the automated system will also enhance Nigeria’s alignment with global best practices in maritime and aquatic resource administration, particularly in data-driven regulation and compliance monitoring.

Once operational, the digital platform will provide real-time data on fish import volumes, enabling the government to accurately assess supply gaps and implement evidence-based policy decisions. According to the statement, the data analytics component will support more strategic planning, ensuring that import licences are issued in line with national food security priorities while protecting local producers from unfair competition.

The system is also expected to strengthen compliance by ensuring that only qualified and duly registered importers receive licences, thereby curbing illegal and unregulated fish importation that has long undermined investments in local aquaculture.

Oyetola said the reform is closely tied to the ministry’s commitment to revitalising domestic fish production and reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

“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,” he said.

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“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 added.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest consumers of fish, with demand consistently outstripping local supply. The minister has repeatedly highlighted the need to bridge this gap through targeted investment in aquaculture, improved fisheries management and policies that encourage private sector participation without stifling indigenous producers.

The digitisation of fish import licensing, the ministry emphasised, will serve as a critical maritime regulatory tool to ensure that importation supports, rather than suppresses, the growth of domestic fish production.