Nigeria commences digitisation of Fish import Licence process

• To enhance local production, economic growth.

To enhance local production of fish towards propelling economic growth, Nigeria has commenced digitisation of fish import licence.

The digitisation, was flagged off by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, with his endorsement.

Dr Adegboyega Oyetoa’s approval of the digitisation of Nigeria’s fish import licensing process, demonstrates a landmark policy move aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and regulatory oversight within the nation’s fisheries sector.

The Minister has consequently 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.