The National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN) has urged the Federal Government to address the factors driving up fish prices, particularly the high cost of foreign exchange, while supporting local production to bridge the country’s supply gap.
NFAN President, Dr Ladan Aliyu, made the call at the inauguration of the new executive committee of One Fish One Voice in Abuja, where he highlighted the growing pressure on consumers from rising food prices.
Aliyu said locally produced fish remains cheaper than imported varieties, but the cost of foreign exchange continues to make imported fish more expensive in the Nigerian market.
His words: “Fish farming in the country is quite cheaper compared to the imported ones like Titus fish and others; we should understand that Nigerians buy dollars the way they buy petroleum, which is why the price is at the rooftop. As an association, we intend to interact with marketers to see how prices can come down for consumers.
He noted that Nigeria needs about 300,000 metric tonnes of fish to meet domestic demand but currently produces less than a quarter of the requirement, leaving a substantial supply deficit.
“There are lots of gaps to cover, a lot is needed to bring down the price of this commodity. We are appealing to the government to work with us to achieve this feat,” Aliyu said.
He also pointed to the rising cost of meat, noting that the price of a cow has reached almost or more than N2 million, further highlighting the need to make fish more accessible to consumers.
The Deputy President of NFAN, Adewale Adewu, also called for government intervention, saying the rising cost of fish reflects wider changes in food prices globally.
Adewu said One Fish One Voice aims to strengthen the fish farming sector by promoting knowledge-sharing, collaboration and access to solutions across different areas of the industry.
He added that the initiative would support fish farmers through financial and other forms of assistance while providing a platform for farmers across different regions to share ideas and access reliable information.
