UN, India, Nigeria move to tackle food insecurity

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), alongside Indian and Nigerian experts, has convened at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to explore strategies aimed at combating food insecurity and advancing aquaculture in Nigeria.

The workshop, themed “India–Nigeria Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange,” gathered key stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance food and nutrition security, expand employment opportunities, and increase income generation through sustainable fish production.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, revealed that nearly 60% of Nigerian households experience food insecurity. He noted that Nigeria spends over $1 billion annually on fish imports, even as the fisheries subsector contributes between 3–5% to the national GDP.

“Fish provides almost 50% of the animal protein consumed in Nigeria,” Dr. Gadain stated. “The country’s annual fish requirement stands at 3.6 million metric tons, leaving a production deficit of 2.4 million metric tons. Bridging this gap is not just an economic necessity—it is a nutritional priority.”

Similarly, Dr. Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish Country Representative, underscored the shared challenges between India and Nigeria in sustainably managing aquatic resources. He highlighted the need for collaborative research and innovation to harness aquaculture’s potential in addressing hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation.

“India and Nigeria are dynamic nations with vast populations and growing food demands,” Dr. Iyangbe said. “Yet both face the challenge of harnessing their aquatic resources sustainably and equitably.”

He added that WorldFish, a global non-profit research organization, is committed to leveraging aquatic foods to nourish people, restore ecosystems, and strengthen livelihoods.

Also speaking, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta, stressed the need to lower aquaculture feed costs and invest in local feed production to ensure sustainability.

“To reduce food insecurity, especially in aquaculture, we must bring down the cost of feeds through local innovation and cost-effective production,” he emphasized.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The India–Nigeria aquaculture collaboration signals a critical turning point in addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges through sustainable blue economy initiatives. For agribusiness stakeholders, several implications emerge:

1. Bridging the Fish Supply Gap
   With a production deficit of 2.4 million metric tons, Nigeria’s aquaculture industry presents significant investment potential. Bridging this gap will require increased investment in hatcheries, feed mills, cold chain logistics, and extension services.
2. Feed Cost Reduction as a Priority
   As highlighted by Dr. Sanni, feed constitutes over 70% of aquaculture production costs. Developing cost-effective, locally sourced feed ingredients could unlock profitability for fish farmers and reduce dependency on imports.
3. Knowledge Exchange and Innovation
   The India–Nigeria partnership exemplifies how South–South cooperation can drive technology transfer. Stakeholders should leverage this platform to adopt India’s proven aquaculture models—particularly in breeding, feed formulation, and market linkage.
4. Economic Diversification through Aquatic Foods
   Fish contributes nearly half of Nigeria’s animal protein intake, indicating its centrality in national nutrition. Strengthening this subsector not only addresses hunger but also supports economic diversification by creating jobs across the aquaculture value chain.
5. Policy and Infrastructure Alignment
   Sustainable aquaculture growth will depend on coordinated policies—especially around water resource management, import substitution, and access to affordable financing for small-scale producers.

Conclusion
The FAO-led India–Nigeria aquaculture dialogue represents more than a policy conversation—it’s a call to action for stakeholders to harness Nigeria’s aquatic potential as a solution to food insecurity. With proper investment, innovation, and policy alignment, aquaculture can transform into a key pillar of Nigeria’s agrifood economy, driving nutrition, employment, and export growth across the blue economy landscape.