Fishermen Want Halt To Foreigners’ Stopped On Lagos Waters

Some fishermen in Lagos have called on the state government to properly regulate fishing activities and stop foreigners from fishing on Lagos waters.

They made the call in separate interviews with the newsmen  in Lagos on Saturday.

The fishermen said that activities of foreign fishermen on Nigeria waters could be detrimental to the interests of local fishermen.

Mr Benedict Musonleyinwon, the President, Lagos State Crayfish Fishing Cooperative Multipurpose Agricultural Society, said that that proper regulation would boost fishing activities in the state.

“Foreigners come to fish in our waters, making it difficult for us to make profits,’’ he said.

He also called for establishment of marine fishing stations for fueling of boats used by fishermen.

The association president also called on the state government to provide rescue boats for the fishermen.

“ A lot happens in the waters most of the time, rescue does not easily come to victims of sea accidents,“ Musonleyinwon said.

He, however, commended the state government for reviving fishing activities.

Mr Gafar Yusuf, the President of the Eja Lonibu Fishermen cooperative Society, Apapa, told NAN that cooperative societies had improved immensely.

Yusuf said that the FADAMA III programme had helped fishermen in the Apapa Local Government to boost their activities.

“The FADAMA III was introduced in Apapa recently; this has helped us a lot, especially in the purchase of outboard engines.

“We only have to pay about 30 per cent of the total cost of the engines, while FADAMA, which comprises the federal, state and local governments, will pay the balance of 70 per cent,“ Yusuf said.

Mr Abdul Rafiu, another fisherman, told NAN that the FADAMA project was building a cold room in Ilasan in Jakande Estate on the Lagos Island for fish processing.

“The FADAMA programme has assisted us in many ways, especially now that it is building for us a cold room to assist us in processing,” he said. (NAN)