Agriculture
Fishery stakeholders express determination to boost local aquaculture production
Fishery stakeholders have stated their commitment to increasing the country’s aquaculture production in order to win recognition on worldwide markets.
They disclosed this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos at the Norwegian Seafood Council’s ongoing capacity building workshop.
The Norwegian Seafood Council’s four-day capacity development, which began on May 10, is expected to increase Nigeria’s aquaculture sector, according to NAN.
Mr Adeniyi Okanlawon, Assistant Director of the Federal Department of Fisheries, said the training would ensure that locally bred fish is accepted in international markets.
In his words, “One of the objectives of the capacity building workshop is to help local fish farmers enhance production standard. With this training, I believe we can get to that level.
“All the best management practices will be applied and on that note, I believe we are coming out to be another giant stride in aquaculture.
“And that might move Nigerian aquaculture up the ladder a bit, as we are presently second to Egypt in production in Africa.
“We are looking forward to increasing local produce to be the best in Africa.”
On his part, a lecturer at the Federal College of Fishery and Marine Technology, Dr Olukayode Olubiyi, said the training would help to improve the quality of local aquaculture produce.
“With the exposure of most of the participants are getting from the training, we will be well equipped to analyse the challenges faced in the sector and how to remedy them.
“This workshop will help us understand why our fish produce is not accepted by the international markets, especially in Europe and Norway. Basically, this is what this programme is targeting.
“I think after the training, we will be coming out with the kind of standard that will make our products top notch anywhere, not only for the current markets being targeted, but also the American markets.
“Our produce should be top quality that we will be proud of. Nigeria should not be synonymous with poor quality, we feel bad when we hear things like that. We should not be synonymous with anything that is poor,” Olubiyi said.
Also speaking, the Assistant Fishery Officer, Federal Department of Fishery, Mr Gideon Orji, said the workshop would help local fish farmers get it right in aquaculture exports.
“We are here to learn how to export locally farmed fish and how to encourage our farmers to do so seamlessly.
“The knowledge we are getting at this training will help us eat healthy fish, export our fish and to expand our production.
“Now we have known that the consumption in Nigeria is high. We are the highest in the world in fish consumption, but we are not producing enough. Farmers here know that we are not producing enough and we have work to do.
“By collaborating with the Norwegian government, other international organisations and the Department of Fisheries, we will know how we can expand our production so that we can get to the international markets,” Orji said.
A fish farmer and processor, Mrs Evelyn Dimgba, also reiterated that fish farmers are on the right path with their participation at the ongoing training.
“We are going to gain a lot from this workshop, although there are a lot of lapses in fish farming and processing including marketing.
“Most local fish farmers cannot get it right because we have the problem of consulting to get the right results in aquaculture.
“I believe with this capacity building, Nigerian fish farmers will be led to the right path in getting it right in aquaculture business to get the desired results from the sector.
Another fish farmer, Mrs Kemi Egbucha, commended the council for the workshop where farmers would garner relevant information in the sector.
“I am glad to be part of the training and I believe I have learnt a lot from it. We are grateful to the Norwegian Seafood Council for this opportunity.
“We will be able to position ourselves adequately in the international markets as a result of the knowledge garnered from the workshop,” Egbucha added.
The Borno Government has announced the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development to align its
Development strategy with Federal Government initiatives, and boost the state’s economic potential.
Gov. Babagana Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing in of two commissioners at the council chambers of the Government House.
Zulum underscored the importance of livestock and fisheries as vital sectors with untapped revenue potential.
He emphasised that the new ministry would focus on high-yield livestock breeds, milk production and fisheries, targeting both domestic consumption and export opportunities.
The governor said that “no state government can make substantial money in livestock alone, but we believe with the right investment and political will, the sector can generate significant revenue.”
He said that the growing demand for milk by yogurt companies and the proximity of Maiduguri to Asian and Arab markets, are great opportunities for dairy exportation.
The governor, therefore, assigned the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, to oversee the activities of the new ministry, citing his practical experience and passion for livestock development.
He said “livestock development is not just about academic qualifications, it is about practice and the deputy governor has demonstrated capability in that regard.”
According to him, the ministry will prioritise procuring high-yielding livestock varieties, enhancing milk production and creating sustainable rural projects to support
Local communities.
He said that projects in Mafa, Gajiram and in Southern Borno will soon be launched under the new ministry’s purview.
The governor urged civil servants and ministry personnel to take ownership of the new initiative, adding that the ministry’s success would contribute to the states
Long-term economic stability and self-reliance.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.
The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollars loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
NAN) reports that Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. is leading the team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum product from the facility after its rehabilitation.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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