By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Federal Government has defended the slow pace of implementing the proposed digitisation of fish import licensing, insisting that bureaucratic processes and regulatory requirements must be fully observed before the system can go live nationwide.
This comes amid growing concerns among stakeholders over the lack of clarity surrounding timelines, transparency measures, and public access to licensing data, nearly two months after the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Adegboyega Oyetola announced the reform.
In an exclusive response to enquiries by our correspondent, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola explained that while the directive to digitise the licensing regime has been issued, the process is still at an early implementation stage.
According to him, expectations of an immediate rollout are unrealistic given the nature of government procedures.
“If the government announces a programme, the government is not the private sector; we have to be patient for it to mature. It is not something that starts instantly,” he said.
He disclosed that the Minister has formally directed the Department of Fisheries to commence the digitisation process, but noted that execution involves multiple layers of planning, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance.
“The department will now create a plan for the digitisation. Where they need to involve the private sector, they will. There will also be procurement processes, including Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) procedures. The Minister cannot shun due process,” he added.
This lack of specificity has raised concerns among industry players who had anticipated that the reform would quickly address longstanding opacity in fish import licensing.
The Special Adviser however, maintained that groundwork is already underway.
“I can confirm to you that the Minister has given the directive and the Department of Fisheries has started work on implementing it,” he said.
The digitisation initiative was initially presented as a major transparency reform aimed at eliminating discretion, curbing abuse, and providing real-time visibility into Nigeria’s fish import ecosystem.
Stakeholders had expected that the platform would publish key data, including, list of licensed importers allocation of import quotas, volume of fish imports into the country
However, the government has yet to clarify whether such data will be made publicly accessible or the format in which it will be released.
Nonetheless, the Minister’s aide reiterated that transparency remains a central objective of the reform.
“It will make the process transparent. We will be able to know the total number of what we import, and this will also put those who cut corners in check,” he stated.
Industry observers say while due process is necessary, the absence of timelines and measurable milestones risks undermining confidence in the reform.
Some operators argue that without immediate transparency measures, the existing system often criticised for favouritism and lack of accountability will continue unchecked.
Others, however, acknowledge that reforms involving government procurement and digital infrastructure typically require time to develop, especially when compliance with regulatory bodies like the Bureau of Public Procurement is involved.
In a chat with our correspondent a fish trawler Aduragbemi Omoboriowo note that the current situation mirrors similar reform efforts in Nigeria’s maritime sector, where ambitious digitalisation projects are often announced but take months or even years to materialise due to institutional bottlenecks.
