Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has warned that new investments in the country’s fisheries sector must strengthen, rather than displace, the millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods depend on artisanal fishing. Oyetola made the statement while receiving a team of Turkish investors, emphasizing the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering an investment-friendly environment that remains inclusive and sustainable.
During the meeting with CRD Impex, led by Cem Tarhan, the Minister outlined several structural challenges currently confronting the artisanal fisheries sector. He identified inadequate infrastructure, limited access to modern fishing technology, and processing and storage constraints as key obstacles. Additionally, he cited weak cold-chain systems and gaps in market access as significant hurdles that hinder the sector’s potential.
Despite these difficulties, Oyetola noted that the existing challenges present substantial opportunities for investment, particularly in modernizing the fisheries value chain. He stated that the government’s approach is to transform these issues into opportunities while ensuring that local fish producers’ productivity and livelihoods are improved, not compromised.
“We welcome investors who can bring capital, technology, expertise and modern value-chain solutions to the sector. However, investment must be inclusive and sustainable. It must complement and empower our artisanal fish producers, not undermine their livelihoods,” Oyetola said.
Tarhan stated that CRD Impex, which possesses extensive experience in fisheries and aquaculture in Turkey, is in Nigeria to explore investment opportunities. The company expressed interest in leveraging its expertise and investment capacity to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
To gain first-hand knowledge of the local industry, the Turkish investors, accompanied by officials from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, conducted site visits to several key facilities across the country. These inspections were designed to assess specific investment opportunities and understand the operational realities of the Nigerian fisheries value chain.
The tour included visits to the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal and the Ozumba Mbadiwe Fish Market in Lekki, Lagos. The delegation also traveled to Cross River State, where they inspected the Esuk Nsidung Beach Market in Henshaw Town, a major waterfront seafood and trading hub.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
