The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed concern over the multiplicity and duplication of roles by government agencies at the nation’s seaports, describing it as a significant hindrance to the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.
Speaking on the second day of the Ministry’s “Stakeholders Engagement on Enhanced Activities in the Blue Economy Sector,” held today in Lagos, Oyetola emphasized that the government’s primary role is to serve and assist the people through effective policies. He highlighted that the current administration, led by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has prioritized the ease of doing business to streamline operations and simplify tax reviews, thereby fostering a conducive environment for business activities in Nigeria.
Oyetola’s remarks followed complaints from the Indigenous Fish Importers and Exporters Association regarding overlapping functions, particularly in laboratory and sampling duties conducted by both the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The association pointed out that the redundancy in sampling and the associated levies and taxes present serious challenges to their operations.
Stakeholders have called on the Minister to streamline the activities of these agencies to avoid duplication. In response, Oyetola assured that the Federal Government would address these issues, noting the importance of fish exportation as a source of foreign exchange. He emphasized that resolving these challenges is critical to maintaining the government’s revenue outlook.
Oyetola further assured stakeholders that issues such as accelerated laboratory sampling and delays in the issuance of license certificates would be tackled by the Director of Fishery and Aquaculture in the Ministry.
Representatives from various associations, including the Indigenous Fish Importers and Exporters Association and the Nigeria Fish Dealers Association, Producers, and Processors, were present at the engagement. Chidike Ukoh, the Acting National Secretary of the National Fish Association of Nigeria, assured the Minister of the sub-sector’s capacity to meet local demands and urged the establishment of a security outfit to protect fishermen, similar to agro-rangers and mining marshals.
Nurudeen Tiamiyu, the National Vice President of the Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), highlighted the need for broader attention to other blue economy derivatives, such as finfish, seaweed, urchins, sea cucumbers, and crustaceans, beyond the focus on catfish and tilapia farming.
The engagement session underscored the importance of addressing operational inefficiencies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the blue economy sector in Nigeria.