Impact Of Fish Production On Economic Growth In Nigeria

Nurudeen Ahmed Tijani; Prof. Zakari Saheed; Mosses Danpome

Authors

Nurudeen Ahmed Tijani Department of Economics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna State Author
Prof. Zakari Saheed Department of Economics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna State Author
Mosses Danpome Department of Economics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna State Author

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of fish production on economic growth in Nigeria, using annual time series data from 1985 to 2025. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test confirmed that gross domestic product (GDP), labour productivity, and fishery production are integrated of order one, justifying the application of Johansen co-integration and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The co-integration results revealed a stable long-run relationship among the variables, while the VECM indicated that approximately 25.7% of short-run disequilibrium is corrected annually. Findings show that fish production exerts a positive and significant influence on GDP in the long run, underscoring its role as a driver of sustainable growth. However, labour productivity displayed a negative short-run effect on GDP, reflecting inefficiencies in Nigeria’s labour market. Diagnostic tests confirmed the robustness of the model, with no evidence of autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, or non-normality. The study concludes that fisheries are structurally tied to Nigeria’s economic growth, though short-run volatility persists. It recommends expanding aquaculture, improving labour efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices to fully harness the sector’s potential for long term development.