Marine and Blue Economy Ministry to increase local fish production, reduce dependence on importation

By Tayo ABIOLA

The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is poised to increasing local fish production and reduce dependence on importation.

The Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, reinforced the commitment during the tour of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) and the Liaison office of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture which houses College of Fishery in Lagos.

Oyetola charged the staff of the institute to redouble their efforts and ensure they find solution to the rising cost of fish feeds in Nigeria

The Minister further urged the institute to map out the country’s various marine resources, saying the country needs to know what it has and in what quantity.

The Chief Executive of NIOMR, Professor Abiodun Sule, took the Minister through some of its strategic breakthroughs, including unveiling some of the different species of fish in our waters.

At the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture, the Minister inspected the laboratory and charged the staff not to lower the standard of monitoring and inspection so as to ensure the country’s exporters are not blacklisted by the international community and also ensuring that those being imported meet required standard.

Oyetola assured the staff of both institutions of his commitment to their welfare and urged them to also increase their capacity and productivity, as he wants to see the fishing contribute to job creation and increase in revenue of the federal government.

The members of staff promised the Minister not to let him down and pledged their commitment to the vision and mission of the Minister with respect to the maritime sector.

The Minister was accompanied on the tour by the Permanent Secretary, Oloruntola Olufemi; Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Babatunde Bombata, and the Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Engr. Ibrahim Umar, who represented the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority.