Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a strategic pathway to address critical infrastructure deficits and prohibitively high interest rates stifling Nigeria’s aquaculture sector. Despite immense potential for food security and economic growth, the industry faces severe constraints: inadequate hatcheries, feed mills, processing facilities, and cold chains, compounded by limited access to affordable financing. High commercial loan rates (often 25–40%) deter private investment, especially among smallholder farmers and SMEs, hindering productivity and value chain development.
This study examines how PPPs can mitigate these dual challenges by leveraging public resources (land, policy support, seed capital) and private expertise (technology, management, market access). It analyzes mechanisms such as:
Infrastructure co-investment in hatcheries, processing plants, and logistics;
Blended finance models (e.g., concessional loans, credit guarantees) to reduce borrowing costs;
Risk-sharing frameworks to attract private capital.
Key findings reveal that structured PPPs can:
Modernize infrastructure to curb post-harvest losses (currently ~40%);
Lower financing barriers via public-backed low-interest loans;
However, success hinges on resolving regulatory fragmentation, securing land/water rights, and strengthening institutional capacity. Recommendations include creating dedicated aquaculture PPP units, expanding central bank intervention funds, and aligning policies with national agendas like the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (FAAP).
With targeted PPP frameworks, Nigeria can transform aquaculture into an engine of inclusive growth, food sovereignty, and resilience against climate and economic shocks.
Keywords: Public-Private Partnership, Aquaculture, Nigeria, Infrastructure Financing, High-Interest Loans, Blended Finance, Value Chain Development.