The President of the National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN), Dr. Ladan Aliyu, has urged the Federal government to come up with policies that will make fish more affordable for Nigerians. He made this call at the inauguration of the new executive committee of the One Fish One Voice initiative in Abuja. Dr. Aliyu noted that the high cost of fish is largely due to the rise in foreign exchange rates, which has made imported fish and other food commodities expensive.
According to Dr. Aliyu, fish farming in Nigeria is relatively cheaper compared to imported fish, but the high cost of production is still a major challenge. He explained that the cost of producing one cow is almost two million naira, making meat more expensive than fish. The NFAN president stated that the association aims to interact with marketers to find ways to reduce prices for consumers.
Dr. Aliyu also revealed that Nigeria needs about 300 metric tonnes of fish, but the country is currently not producing even a quarter of that amount. He appealed to the government to work with the association to bridge the gap and bring down the price of fish. The NFAN president emphasized that government intervention is necessary to make fish more affordable for Nigerians.
The Deputy President of NFAN, Adewale Adewu, also spoke at the event, saying that the high pricing of fish is a global phenomenon. However, he noted that government policies can play a significant role in reducing prices. Adewu emphasized that the idea behind the One Fish One Voice initiative is to create a community where fish farmers can share knowledge, ideas, and solutions to challenges facing the industry.
Adewu also stated that the initiative aims to provide financial and other forms of aid to fish farmers. He noted that the association wants to create a safe and supportive environment for fish farmers, free from scammers and hackers. The Deputy President of NFAN emphasized that the association is committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to make fish farming more productive and profitable.
The NFAN leadership is optimistic that with government support, the association can increase fish production and reduce prices. Dr. Aliyu and Adewu believe that by working together, they can make fish more affordable and accessible to Nigerians. The association is set to engage with marketers and other stakeholders to find solutions to the challenges facing the fish farming industry.
The call by NFAN for government intervention comes at a time when food prices are rising in Nigeria. The association's efforts to increase fish production and reduce prices are expected to have a positive impact on the country's food security. Key to this is the government's response to the association's calls for support.
Key points
- The National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN) is calling on the Federal government to implement policies that will reduce the high cost of fish and other commodities in the market.
- Nigeria needs about 300 metric tonnes of fish, but the country is currently not producing even a quarter of that amount.
- The high cost of fish is largely due to the rise in foreign exchange rates, which has made imported fish and other food commodities expensive.
