Fish Scarcity Looms as Importers Abandon Consignments at Lagos Ports
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Nigeria is facing an imminent fish shortage as importers have begun abandoning fish consignments at Lagos seaports due to soaring costs and the ongoing foreign exchange crisis. The situation, which threatens to exacerbate food insecurity in the country, has been confirmed by industry stakeholders.
Vicky Haastrup, Chairman of the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) and CEO of ENL Consortium, sounded the alarm over the potential scarcity. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2024 SCAN Dockworkers’ Day in Lagos, Haastrup revealed that no fish vessels are expected to arrive at the ports this month, a stark contrast to the usual influx.
“Nigerians are passing through a very difficult phase right now, economically,” Haastrup stated. She attributed the abandonment of fish consignments to the rising cost of doing business, which has been aggravated by the depreciating value of the naira and skyrocketing port charges. “The cost of fish has become prohibitively expensive for many Nigerians, and the ongoing forex crisis has only made matters worse,” she added.
Haastrup highlighted that the economic strain has led to a reduction in the buying power of Nigerians, particularly fish consumers, which has further dampened demand. This has resulted in a surplus of fish in cold storage facilities across Lagos, as importers struggle to find buyers for their high-cost products.
“As I’m talking today, we are not expecting any fish vessels at ENL. A lot of fish vessels used to call at ENL regularly, but now we aren’t expecting any throughout this month,” Haastrup lamented. “This is because fish has become very expensive for Nigerians.”
The situation poses a serious threat to food security, especially for lower-income households that rely on fish as a primary source of protein. Haastrup urged the government to take immediate action to address the forex crisis and provide targeted interventions for critical commodities like fish.
“There should be some kind of intervention on the part of the government, particularly on critical items like fish, which is very important for our children’s growth,” she emphasized.
While acknowledging that the federal government has reduced taxes on some commodities, she stressed that the forex issue remains a significant hurdle.
Culled from VANGUARD
