Nigeria Seeks Private Investment In Tuna Sectorff

The Nigerian Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Bamidele Dada, has called for the involvement of the private sector in the exploitation, processing and canning of tuna fish to boost local consumption in Nigeria and to export to other markets.

The minister said this at the public lecture of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) on Thursday in Lagos that such investments by the private sector would boost the nation's income and accelerate poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

The minister, who was represented by the Director of Fisheries, Federal Department of Fisheries, Mr. Gugwin Shinang, noted that research had shown that Tuna fish abound in Nigeria's exclusive economic zone water.

He explained that the other countries like Ghana had been exporting processed Tuna fish to Europe and America.

In addition, he said that the other numerous investment opportunities in the fisheries sub-sector included fish craft construction, gear design and fabrication among others. He urged the industry to support the plan of the government to host the NEPAD fish for All Summit scheduled for Aug 22 to Aug 25 in Abuja.

He said that the problem facing the sector would be addressed at the technical session by professionals and policy makers. According to him, one day will be dedicated for exhibition to enable stakeholders to showcase their products.

The guest speaker, Mr. Oskar Ibru, Group Executive Director, Ibru Organisation, said that if the country’s marine resources were properly harnessed, it was capable of being the engine of growth of the nation's economic development.

He stressed that it could as well rival the oil and gas in generating foreign exchange income.

Speaking on “the Nigerian Industrialist Development of fisheries in Nigeria”, Ibru called for an enabling environment to encourage investors to diversify the utilization of fish and reduce post harvest waste.

He urged the government to initiate bilateral fishing agreement with the international organizations and initiate favorable policies to boost activities in the fisheries sector.

He listed the problem facing the sector as lack of control of fishing resources, which has resulted in the decline in catches and even extension of some species, poaching and high cost of diesel.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Noah Fadayomi, who chaired the occasion, stressed the need for aggressive research, training and appropriate machinery to boost deep shore fishing.

He said that the industrial trawler's vessel in the country did not use polar system to enable them conduct deep sea fishing for some species of fish.

The President FISON, Mr. Andrew Eyo, noted that the fish sector contributed about 5.4 per cent to the nation's GDP in2002 and earned about $54 million, $300,000 and $372 million from the export of shrimps, smoked fish and ornamental live fish respectively.

He urged the private sector to introduce various fish meals for local consumption to boost the intake of protein nutrients of the average Nigerians.

The General Secretary Trawler Owners Association of Nigeria (NITOA), Mr. Robinson Omomia, said that the establishment of jetties in most riverine states was capital intensive, nonviable and being stalled by the unfriendly nature of some of the communities.

Omomia noted that diesel was about 80 per cent of the overhead cost of production and called for a downward review of the price of diesel and the tariff on spare parts for vessel maintenance and raise the incentives for investors in the sector.