The Ogun State Government has stepped up efforts to grow its aquaculture sector, registering 5,068 fish farmers and rolling out wide-ranging support aimed at boosting local production, cutting imports, and improving livelihoods across the state.
The state said the farmers were captured under the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System, OGFIMS, a database designed to improve planning, transparency, and access to support programmes. In addition, 4,362 fish farmers benefited from free capacity-building programmes focused on improving productivity and access to finance.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, CON, said the interventions were informed by Nigeria’s large supply gap in fish production. “Nigeria’s annual fish demand stands at about 3.6 million metric tons, while domestic production supplies only about 1.4 million metric tons, leaving a gap of over 2 million metric tons and resulting in an estimated $1.3 billion in foreign exchange outflow annually,” he said.
According to the governor, the state recognises the economic opportunity within the sector, alongside key challenges. He said these include limited access to finance, high production costs, and inadequate infrastructure, which have continued to constrain fish farmers nationwide.
Abiodun explained that under his administration, OGSTEP has served as a major driver of aquaculture reforms in Ogun State. “Under our farmer-friendly administration, and with OGSTEP as a key catalyst, we have taken deliberate steps over the past two years to strengthen aquaculture and support our fish farmers across Ogun State,” he said.
As part of these steps, the government subsidised 195,436 bags of fish feed at 30 per cent, at a cost of over ₦2.7 billion, to ease the burden of rising input costs. The governor said the intervention was designed to directly reduce production expenses and improve farmers’ profit margins.
The state has also established five fish clusters located in Eriwe, Ikangba/Agoro, Ikenne, Ado-Odo, and Ilashe. The clusters are equipped with shared infrastructure aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access.
“These facilities include cold rooms, blast freezers, smoking kilns, and processing plants,” Abiodun said, adding that the Eriwe Fish Cluster alone serves about 600 farmers. He noted that the site features a near-completed processing plant, lock-up shops and offices, a 5-ton solar-powered blast freezer, a 10-ton cold room, weighing scales, water tanks, and waste-processing systems.
The governor said the five clusters collectively serve 4,362 farmers and were designed to improve product quality, support value addition, and strengthen the aquaculture value chain.
He said the overall goal of the interventions is to reduce fish imports, create jobs, and sustainably improve farmers’ livelihoods. “Through these targeted interventions, we are working to reduce production costs, cut fish imports, minimise post-harvest losses, create jobs, and build a resilient and self-sufficient agricultural economy for Ogun State,” he said across the state.
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