The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, says the nation’s fishing industry can take over from the oil sector if properly harnessed.
Oyetola said this during the stakeholders’ engagement with fishing trawlers held in Lagos on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oyetola was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Oloruntola Olufemi.
He said that the ministry recognised the immense contributions of fish trawler owners to the Nigerian economy in providing fish food nutrition, job creation as well as economic growth.
Oyetola said that the meeting was to collectively chart the course in achieving sustainable development in the Marine and Blue Economy, as well as deepening the rapport between the government and the stakeholders in the fishing trawlers business.
He said that President Bola Tinubu had established the ministry and its Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to facilitate trade with their presence signifying growth as well as progress in the fisheries sector.
According to him, this gathering is the first since the establishment of the department in the ministry in 2024.
