FG Approves Digitisation of Fish Import Licence to Boost Local Production, Economic Growth
The Federal Government has approved the digitisation of Nigeria’s fish import licensing process, a move aimed at boosting transparency, efficiency, and regulatory oversight in the fisheries sector
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega, has consequently directed the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to swiftly implement the digital platform, underscoring the government’s commitment to modernising marine administration and boosting local fish production
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.
According to a statement by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr Oyetola emphasised that the initiative represents a critical reform designed to reposition the nation’s fisheries sector for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
He highlighted 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 Ministry, 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, he noted, 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 the 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.
