Starrays
Benedict Iorgyer and Moses Agbe – NASS
The public hearing on bills to establish a Federal College of Fisheries, a Diving Institute and Brackish Fisheries Institute in Nigeria, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Ocean and Fisheries at the National Assembly Complex last Monday received a wide array of support from different stakeholders in the agriculture and maritime industry as well as the general public.
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 scripted: “A Bill for An Act Establish Federal Institute for Diving Technology, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State. Charged with Responsibility to Provide Full Time Courses in Deep Sea (Oceans) Diving Studies and for Related Matters (HB 112)”, sponsored by Hon. Balogun Adebayo Olusegun, representing Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
The third bill reads: “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.
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.
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.
Also, 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.
Vouching support for the bills sponsored by Hon. Abiante, the FISON President drew an analogy using 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’s 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 and the third element].
“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 succinctly stated.
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 his institution was in full support of the three bills as they are in line with development and advancement of critical sectors in the country.
Prof. Bako said the establishment of the brackish institute, in particular, is coming to close the gap that has existed in the marine sector. He said the memoranda submitted by his institution to the House Committee on Ocean and Fisheries highlight numerous recommendations for the bills, including a suggestion to review of the curriculum to inculcate skills acquisition while pleading with the committee to look into accepting business plans from graduands and sponsoring viable ones in order to empower the youths and keep them off the streets after graduation.
Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Prof. Sule Abiodun, thanked Hon. Abiante for his tenacity in pushing for the passage of the bill.
“We need to progress this time. I know that the bill got to a particular stage last time and it wasn’t signed. Whatever we can do this time to ensure that it get the assent, we need to actually do it. I am in support of the bills”.
Beaming light on the diving institute, he noted that they are looking at beyond mere diving to include a call for OPITO certification where the institute will embark on underwater engineering, maintenance among others. He noted further that if approved, the institute will be the first in the country.
Other stakeholders who supported the bill include Prof. Abdullahi M. Osire, Vice President FISON; Dabit Jonah Sabo, Director of Fisheries, FCTA Fisheries Department, Abuja; Chief Chidike Ukoh (Mazi), National Fish Association of Nigeria; the Cat fish Farmers Association of Nigeria among others.
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.
In the words of Prince Balogun, “If this [the diving institute] is approved, this will be the first institution that will be taking care of divers in the country. When you take about diving, it involves much more than swimming. It is about training people to stay under the water to do welding and many other activities. The economy of the ocean is so large that if we don’t explore it, it will be of disadvantage to us. I believe that if we have such institution that will give certification and degrees to students who are interested, we will be creating a new set of employment within that axis”.
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.
