Nigeria’s fish import bill fell by 14.8 per cent to N167.91 billion in the second quarter of 2026, down from N197.17 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.
The figures, reported by Ships & Ports and based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics, represent a year-on-year decline of N29.26 billion.
The reduction comes as Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen domestic food production and reduce its reliance on imported food products.
Six Major Fish Categories Imported
According to the report, Nigeria imported six major categories of fish across the two periods.
They included:
- Blue whiting
- Herrings
- Mackerel
- Jack and horse mackerel
- Yellowfin tuna
- Other unclassified frozen fish
The categories cover some of the major frozen fish products entering the Nigerian market.
What the Decline Means
The fall in the import bill comes against the backdrop of ongoing government efforts to increase domestic fish production and reduce dependence on imported food.
However, the NBS figures alone do not establish the reason for the decline in import spending.
The lower value could have resulted from a reduction in the volume of fish imported, changes in international fish prices, exchange-rate movements or a combination of these factors.
As a result, the N167.91 billion figure provides a snapshot of Nigeria’s fish import expenditure during the second quarter but does not, by itself, show whether Nigerians consumed less imported fish or whether importers simply paid less for the products.
The decline nevertheless highlights the changing dynamics of Nigeria’s fish trade as the country seeks to expand domestic production and strengthen its agricultural and fisheries value chains.
