Starrays
Benedict Iorgyer and Moses Agbe – NASS
The bills to establish a Federal College of Fisheries and Federal Brackish Fisheries Institute in Nigeria received wide support from the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), other stakeholders in the agriculture and maritime industry and the general public during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Ocean and Fisheries at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja last Monday.
The first proposed bill for the public hearing reads: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act CAP.A12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Establish Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Studies, Ngo, Rivers State and for Related Matters (HB2189)”, sponsored by Rt. Hon. Abiante Awaji-Inombek, representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State.
The second bill was imprinted: “A Bill for An Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Establish Brackish Water Fisheries Research Institute, Ngo, Rivers State and for Related Matters (HB. 2349)”, also sponsored by Hon. Abiante.
The public hearing also garnered support for yet another bill to establish Federal institute for Diving Technology, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, sponsored by Hon. Balogun Adebayo Olusegun, representing Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
During the public hearing of the bills, the Chairman, House Committee on Oceans and Fisheries, Hon. Engr. Akarachi Etonosa Amadi, noted that the position of the ARCN on the bills was very critical, calling on the council to state its stance to the public and formally file a memorandum with the committee for further consideration.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, TPL Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, noted that the council will first state its position on the establishment of Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Studies, Ngo, Rivers State. He observed that the council was fully in support of the establishment of the college, giving the benefits it portends in the areas of man power development, job creation, revenue generation and the development of a vibrant blue economy.
“The establishment of the college will increase access to fisheries and maritime education and improve the critical mass of manpower required for fisheries and maritime sector of the economy. By extension, it will create revenue generation, job opportunities”, he said.
He succinctly noted that the proposed location for the college gives it yet another advantage to achieve giant strides if established.
“In addition, Ngo is situated in a suitable environment for the institution to take off. There are abundant water resources, ocean and a vibrant fishery market economy”, he said.
The ARCN boss however observed that the House Committee should ensure that the details of the bill align fully with the ARCN Act, “The council wishes to emphasize the need to ensure that the details of the bill fully align with the ARCN Act as amended”, he stressed.
The Executive Secretary further called on the Government of Rivers State to fulfil its promise of providing a site for the college, “The council acknowledge the committee of Rivers State Government and they early approve the release of Modern Government Secondary School at Ngo for the immediate take off of an earlier proposed FCFFT Campus.
“The Rivers State Government also committed to grant a Certificate of Occupancy or Deed of Release in respect of the property to the Federal Government. It is hoped that the same commitment would be shown at this time that the fully pledged college is being proposed”, TPL Dr. Adamu noted.
Similarly, the ARCN also vouched support for the bill to establish the Brackish Water Fisheries Research Institute. In his remarks, the ARCN boss observed that the council has no objection to the establishment of the institute due to abundant water resources situated in Ngo, the proposed site of the institute and the potentials the proposed institute pose on the development of the economy.
“I [ARCN] have no objection for the establishment of the Brackish Water Fisheries Research Institute at Ngo, Rivers State because of the stability of the area, job creation, economic improvement and others [opportunities] that we see that are visible. There will be job opportunities; the fishery farmers will also be fully engaged”, he said.
He noted that the location of the institute in Ngo was an added advantage. According to him, the community offers natural conditions for pipefish water fishery with several species. It has warm tropical temperature, which support brackish water fisheries.
“Suffice to note that the establishment of the research institute is a strategy that takes the imperative advantage of the various locations in the country into account. Ngo is located in the Niger Delta, which is Nigeria’s largest expanse of pipefish water eco system”.
The ARCN boss added that the institute will attract greater attention to brackish fisheries research, support the government agenda for food security, improve the blue economy and lift the abundant underutilised and untapped brackish fishery resources in Nigeria as well as increase the country’s global relevance.
He however observed that despite the importance of the institute and the overwhelming support of the ARCN for the bill, the House Committee on Oceans and Fisheries should ensure that the proposed bill fully aligns with the ARCN Act as amended.
The council further proffered recommendations for effective take off of the institute, including the provision of adequate land for each institution, provision of necessary infrastructure, support for comprehensive academic and research programmes, disbursement of take-off grant, timely release of take-off grant to recover initial operational cost and facility development among others.
Similarly, the bills received support from the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON). Speaking to the bills, the President of FISHON, Dr. Ebinimi J. Ansa, noted that the Brackish Water Fisheries Research Institute is long overdue and needs to be urgently established, considering the numerous benefits it portends.
Supporting the bills, the FISON president drew an analogy with the Nigerian flag, stating that one of the elements that represent the three ecosystems in Nigeria, the brackish, has not been given priority hence the need to fast track the bill and urgently assent to it.
In her words, “It’ like we have our national flag – green, white and green – we have three aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria, which we are blessed with. We have the marine, which is the first green, the brackish which is the white and the fresh water, which is the second green [on the Nigerian flag].
“As it is now, the white is missing – the brackish water research institute is missing. We need to establish it. It is long overdue. I have worked in that environment for some decades and I see the potential for us to help in a lot of areas.
“Without being intentional to establish both the college [Federal College of Fisheries] and the brackish water fisheries research institute, we will not be getting it right. It is better to start now. We had all the years, we didn’t do it. We, at the Fisheries Society of Nigeria, support the bill”, Ebinimi reiterated.
Also speaking in support of the bills was the Provost/CEO of the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa (FCFFT), Prof. Bako M. Modu who noted that they are in full support for the establishment of both the College and Brackish Water Fisheries Research Institute.
Earlier, the sponsors of the bills, Rt. Hon. Abiante Awaji-Inombek and Hon. Prince Balogun Adebayo Olusegun spoke enthusiastically about the attendant benefits of the bills and urged the stakeholders and the general public to support them with the overall aim of improving the socio-economic index of the country and putting Nigeria on the global map of development.
Other Honourable Members of the House Committee on Oceans and Fisheries, including Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru (Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Edo State); Hon. Abdullahi El-Rasheed (Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State); Hon. Mark Esset Udo (Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State); Hon. Muktar Tolani Shagaya, Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency (Kwara State); The Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Aliyu Aminu Garu (Bauchi Federal Constituency, Bauchi State) added their voices to the proposed bills.
It is good to note that the public hearing was convened with the full support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D.
Further to the wide array of support for the bills, the Chairman of the Committee noted in the affirmative that the House Committee on Oceans and Fisheries will speedily prepare its report and with the full hope of getting support from the speaker and his colleagues. He said they look forward for also getting presidential assent if the bills are eventually passed.
