President Muhammadu Buhari has
approved the purchase of monitoring vessels to reduce unregulated fishing and
boost security on the waterways.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo disclosed this at the 10th Annual Ministrial Conference of the
Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), held Friday in
Abuja.
He said safety of the nation’s
waterways remained a key priority to the current administration.
The Vice President restated
Federal Government determination to reducing fish imports into the country,
saying the efforts are already yielding significant results.
Osinbajo said within 2017, local
fish production increased from 450, 000 metric tons from early January to 1.1
million metric tons.
“The safety of Nigeria maritime
is also a principal concern to us. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the
purchase of some patrol vessels for the department of fishery which would be
managed with the collaboration of the Nigerian Navy. These vessels will boost
the research and rescue capacities of the relevant security agencies, deter
illegal fishing and help secure our vessels at sea.
“In the north east of Nigeria
where Boko Haram has devastated the fishery industry which supplies most of the
West African states. Earlier this year, president Buhari approve establishment
of Lake Chad Naval Base to boost security and fastrack the restoration of the
livelihood in that zone.
“Theme of this conference which is to invest in the growth and
sustainability of fishery in west Africa, it is important even in term of
sharing the experience and lay aspiration for the economic wellbeing of our
people. Our effort to reduce fish import and increase local fish production by
encouraging the private sectors to invest in the aquaculture is yielding
positive result. In the domestic fish production for example, in the last two
years has increased from 450,000 metric tons to 1.1million metric tons, and we
hope this growth we be exponential,” he added.
Osinbajo, who emphasised need to
support the regional aquaculture industry described it as efficient employer of
labour.
He stressed that as part of
commitments from the federal government to support the fisheries committee, a
sum of $200, 000 have been paid to the FCWC while the outstanding will be
provided shortly.
In his opening remarks, Chairman
of the conference, James Kollie identified need for participants to explore
opportunities that will ensure priced fishery resources in the region enhances
it’s economic growth in a sustainable manner.
According to him, the potential
of fishery goes beyond resources found in the maritime environment but reliable
employer of labour.
Kollie, who is the Liberian
Minister of Fishery added that, “Fish is not only a source of animal protection
for more than 375 million people in West Africa, it is also a viable economic
resource that provides employment and livelihood for over 100 million people in
the region.”
The Minister of State for
Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri advised participants
to take seriously issues relating to effective management of fishery resources.
He acknowledged that the fight
against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing deserves collected efforts
which should be sustained.
However, Lokpobiri lauded the
FCWC Secretary General for the conference theme titled, “Investment for Growth
and Sustainability in Fisheries in West Africa.”
Participants at the conference
included representatives from Benin, Cote d’ voire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and
Togo. Others are African Union, European Union and Economic Community of West
Africa State (ECOWAS).
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