Nigeria imports $1bn worth of fish annually — Dangote

President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported fish, disclosing that the country spends about $1 billion annually on fish imports despite its abundant marine and inland water resources.

He said the rising import bill underscores the untapped potential of Nigeria’s blue economy and highlights the need for increased investment in fisheries and aquaculture to boost local production, enhance food security and conserve foreign exchange.

Dangote made this revelation in the keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr. Akin Omole, at the recently-held Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy’s Second Quarter 2026 Citizens/Stakeholders’ Engagement in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, he explained that the inadequate infrastructure, limited access to long-term financing and policy inconsistencies have continued to constrain growth in the sector, despite Nigeria’s vast coastline and rich aquatic resources.

He called for stronger public-private partnerships, insisting that the government alone cannot finance the transformation of the marine and blue economy.

Dangote identified fisheries and aquaculture, port infrastructure and logistics, maritime manufacturing and shipbuilding, marine technology, renewable energy and coastal tourism as priority areas for investment.

He urged investors to leverage the opportunities within the sector, noting that developing competitive maritime industries would reduce import dependence, create jobs and accelerate economic diversification.

“The true measure of success will not be the policies we formulate, but the industries we build; not the strategies we publish, but the jobs we create; not the investments we announce, but the prosperity we deliver to millions of Nigerians,” he said.

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