Trawling Firms Frets Over Order To Quit Lagos Terminal

The recent quit notice
given to fishing trawlers using the Kirikiri Lighter Terminals which is strategic in the agric sector for the export of fish and shrimps is now causing ripples.
The quit notice which targets the Kikikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) 2 which is home to fishing trawlers and Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, (NITOA) was served by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Reason for the notice, to the fishing mariners, is that according to The Tide source, NPA plans to allocate the KLT I and II to maritime operators of containers.
The General Manager in charge of monitoring and compliance at the NPA, Johsua Asanga told The Tide source that the trawlers would be relocated to Kirikiri Lighter Terminal I since the government plans to use the present location at Terminal 2 as wholly for port terminal.
According to him, although government had originally reserved the place for the commercial fishermen the new focus and direction was now to concession the place for port terminal operations.
He said government intended to provide the fishermen land-based services in their new location, adding that those services were meant to bring down cost of operations on the long run.
Acting under the umbrella of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) an organization established for the purpose of enhancing the development of the Nigerian, fisheries industry and members welfare, National President, Dr Olajide Ayinla has made a plea to the Federal Government to intervene.
On the strength of that, NITOA and the Nigerian Fisheries Forum (NFF) are affiliate members of the society and in defence of the sector.
Ayinla further explained that his organisation had earlier conceded KLT 1 and 2 to the Federal Government of Fisheries (FDF) as a dedicated contralised Fishing Terminal and Habour Complex, particularly for tuna fishing vessels on behalf of all the fishing companies in the country.
He affirmed that the allocation of the property was properly published in an official gazette.
Former president, NITOA Mrs Margret Orakusi described the order on the trawler to owners to quit as unfortunate.

other sector in terms of revenue generation.
“This is an industry that is two ministries, transport and agriculture and if we are serious about growing the fishing industry, certain infrastructure must be provided.
“There are schools offering fisheries, who is going to employ them when they finish, yet we are talking about diversifying the economy” she said.