President of the Association of Fish Suppliers of Nigeria (AFISUN), Engr. Ginger Mba, has listed documentation, berthing delays, increase in tariffs, clearing delays, power outage, inspection agents and high cost of duty as the challenges of the industry.

He stated this during a seminar on the challenges in importation and clearance of fish products in Nigeria.

He enjoined Nigerians to eat more of fish than meat, noting “the increasing benefit of fish to diet has led to a boom in the consumption of fish, as an excellent source of cheap protein.”

“Unfortunately, Nigeria is not self-sufficient to yield domestically to meet the challenges, a factor that had necessitated importation of frozen fish.”

Mba revealed that fish has quality protein and contains as much as 61 per cent first class protein on a dry matter basis, essential amino acid, OMEGA 3, vitamins and other important ions like calcium for good bone formation especially in children, fats and oil for healthy human growth.

He itemised a good network of distribution outfits in all the 36 states of Nigeria, which include refrigerated vehicles for transporting fish and cold rooms for preservation and storage to sustain the quality, various categories of manpower trained technically by members of the association to attend to the refrigerating outfits on a daily basis in order to ensure continuity of operation.