By Timipah Orusa
In a renewed effort to boost investment in the fish and aquaculture sector, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Bayelsa State Coordinating Office, is set to collaborate with the Bayelsa State Chapter of the National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN) to host an upcoming Investors’ Forum focused on “Fish and Aquaculture Value Chain Development for Sustainable Development.”
The strategic meeting, held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the RMRDC State Office, Federal Secretariat Complex, Oxbow Lake, Yenagoa, brought together key representatives from both bodies. The forum, tentatively scheduled for December 9, 2025, aims to promote sustainable investment in fish production, processing, and marketing across Bayelsa State and beyond.
Welcoming the NFAN delegation, RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr Timipah Orusa , commended the association’s leadership for honouring the Council’s invitation on short notice. He emphasized RMRDC’s mandate to foster industrial development through optimal utilization of Nigeria’s abundant local raw materials, including aquatic resources.
“Bayelsa State has immense potential in fisheries and aquaculture. Fish and its by-products possess industrial, nutritional, and economic value that gives them a competitive edge over other agro-raw materials in the state,” Mr. Orusa noted. He further highlighted key agro raw materials identified in the state, including cassava, plantain, cocoa, and seafood, calling on NFAN to mobilize its members to participate fully and exhibit their products at the forum.
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In response, Prince Clifford Enaibo, Chairman of the National Fish Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, praised the RMRDC for initiating the engagement. He revealed that the association had long desired collaboration with the Council, particularly in the area of fish processing, which remains underdeveloped due to multiple constraints.
He cited several challenges facing the fish production sector in Bayelsa, including:
- Lack of access to modern fish processing equipment
- Limited access to soft loans and funding for fish farmers
- Poor government support and absence of a centralized fish market
- High insecurity and sea piracy affecting fishing communities
“These challenges have hindered our members from venturing into value-added fish processing activities such as fish oil extraction,” Prince Enaibo said. “We have engaged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, but more support is needed to revitalize the industry.”
A key concern raised by RMRDC’s Senior Executive Officer, Mr. Usman Issa Olatayo, was the absence of large-scale fish processing and utilization of fish by-products for industrial purposes. In response, Prince Enaibo reiterated the capital-intensive nature of such ventures, calling for targeted investment and government incentives to support local producers.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Orusa acknowledged the sector’s challenges and stressed the need for improved coordination among stakeholders. He noted that the Investors’ Forum will serve as a platform to bring together fish farmers, processors, marketers, researchers, and potential investors to identify practical solutions and foster collaboration for sustainable aquaculture development.
