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FG Earmarks N4bn For Fish Farmers

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The Federal Government has earmarked N4 billion for the financing of fishery projects in the country under the second phase of the ECOWAS-Fund Accelerated Fisheries Development Projects.

Under the arrangement, the federal government would contribute N2 billion while states and local governments would provide N1.85 billion.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Ibukun Odusote stated this at the opening of a 2-day workshop on the project on Tuesday in Kaduna.

She said 16,000 jobs was expected to be created by each of the beneficiaries along the value chain.

She added that the Bank of Agriculture would manage the fund and disburse the loan to the beneficiaries.

Odusote said 50 per cent of the fund would be issued to youths groups as loan, 30 per cent to women while 20 per cent would be shared by other groups.

She said the development of the fisheries sub sector was part of the government’s transformation agenda, adding that it was meant to create employment, generate income, alleviate poverty and provide foreign exchange earnings.

“ It is estimated that over 10 million Nigerians are actively engaged in various fishing activities, which include artisanal capture, fishing operations, farming, processing, marketing, net fabricators and boat engine repairers and menders.

“ Fish contributes immensely to the enhancement of the nation’s health as it contains Omega III fatty acids that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and arteriosclerosis,“ Odusote said.

According to her, fisheries contribution to the national GDP is 5.4 per cent, while the estimated national fish demand is 2.66 million metric tones.

“ The annual domestic fish production in 2011 was 893, 099 metric tones showing a shortfall of about 1,766,901 metric tones.

“ Hence, increase in national fish production will not only diversify our resource base but will complement efforts aimed at achieving the 2015 MDGs targets,“ Odusote said.

She said the project was started in 1992 with a loan of US$4.54 million from ECOWAS-Fund designed to guarantee easy access formal credit to artisanal fishermen and women in some selected communities in Delta, Edo, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

She said the project was expanded in 2003 to include Kano, Kogi, Imo, Niger and Yobe states with the beneficiaries getting a loan of N150,000 to N250,000 at nine per cent interest rate.

The Permanent Secretary said more than 4,000 fish farmers had shared N136 million loan and repaid over N125 million, representing 66 per cent of the loan package.

Odusote appealed to the participants from the Northern zone to be proactive and ensure effective implementation of the funds through efficient monitoring and evaluation of the projects to achieve its targeted goal.

Earlier, the Director of Fisheries, Mr Evaristus Edet said the project had impacted significantly in the 11 states that benefited from the facility.

Edet said the project had been expanded to cover all states of the federation.

Our correspondent reports that the participants were drawn from the Bank of Agriculture, fish farms and fisheries department from the Northers States.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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