By Abdullahi Lukman
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, alongside experts from India and Nigeria, has convened at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan to explore strategies for tackling food insecurity through the aquaculture sector.
The India-Nigeria Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange Workshop brought together stakeholders to discuss sustainable ways to enhance food and nutrition security, create jobs, and improve income opportunities in Nigeria.
Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, highlighted the critical state of food insecurity in the country, noting that nearly 60% of Nigerian households are affected.
He revealed that Nigeria spends over $1 billion annually on fish imports due to a domestic supply deficit of 2.4 million metric tons, despite a national requirement of 3.6 million metric tons.
“With fish accounting for almost 50% of the animal protein consumed in Nigeria, and the fisheries subsector contributing between 3–5% of GDP, closing the fish production gap is both a nutritional and economic imperative,” Gadain stated.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish Country Representative, emphasized the shared challenges and opportunities between India and Nigeria.
He stressed the need for both nations to manage their aquatic resources sustainably while enhancing resilience and equity within their food systems.
WorldFish, a global nonprofit research organization, is focused on using aquatic food systems to improve nutrition, raise incomes, and support ecosystem recovery, Iyangbe added.
Dr. Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta, called for urgent reforms in aquaculture, particularly in reducing the cost of fish feeds.
He said lowering feed prices and promoting cost-effective feed production are essential steps toward boosting local fish farming and combating food insecurity.
The workshop concluded with a call for continued collaboration among international partners, researchers, and government agencies to develop sustainable aquaculture practices that can drive long-term food security in Nigeria.