FISHERIES
SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON)
Old College, Bar Beach Bus Stop, Wilmot Point Road,
Off Ahmadu Bello Way,
Victoria Island, P.O. Box 2607, Apapa, Lagos.
fison2011@yahoo.com,www.fison.org.ng,fison1976@gmail.com
08023261588, 08023325185, 08023545803
23rd
February, 2015
PRESS RELEASE
SEVEN DAYS EVICTION NOTICE BY THE NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY (NPA) TO
FISH TRAWLING COMPANIES IN KIRIKIRI LIGHTER TERMINAL 1 AND 2
The Fisheries Society of
Nigeria (FISON) is an organization established for the purpose of enhancing the
development of the Nigerian fisheries Industry and the attendant protection of
its members. The Nigerian Fisheries Forum (NFF) and the Nigerian Trawler Owners
Association (NITOA) are affiliate member associations of FISON.
Our attention has been drawn
to the seven (7) days eviction notice by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to
fish trawling companies to quit their present location, Kirikiri Lighter
Terminal 2 (KTT2) as NPA intends to
allocate the said property to the Maritime Operators of Containers.
It is important to note from
the records available that the Supreme Military Council (SMC) the highest
policy making body in Nigeria during General Obasanjo’s regime in the 1970s
approved the concession of KLT 1 and 2 to the Federal Department of Fisheries
(FDF) for the development as a dedicated CENTRALIZED FISHING TERMINAL, Harbour
complex particularly for Tuna Fishing vessels and other categories of fishing
vessels on behalf of all the entire fishing companies in Nigeria. The
allocation of the said property was duly publicized in a gazette.
In view of the fact that the
collective concession was done in the interest of the overall public, NPA has
no right to allocate the said property to a few Nigerian Operators of
Containers without going through due process. It is very important to note that
Federal Department Fisheries paid the concession fee to NPA on behalf of all
fishing companies.
The main objective for the
allocated concession done by Government in the 1970s was to develop a Tuna
Fishing Industry which was very important for Nigeria to diversify her economy
in view of the down trend in oil industry even now. Ghana a West African
neighbour of Nigeria has developed its Tuna fisheries with a labour force of three
million people employed. This eviction notice must not be allowed to be enforced
in view of the windows of investment opportunities available in Tuna Fishing.
It is important to note that
thirty (30) of the (34) fishing trawling companies operating in Nigeria within
the last decade have relocated to other neighbouring West African countries
where they claim that the fishing environment is more conducive for investment
than in Nigeria . With Public Private Participation (PPP) approach, Federal
Government can develop a viable fishing terminal that will open up Nigeria for
Tuna fishing.
Our plea to the Federal
Government is to please prevail on NPA not to evict fishing companies for the
reasons stated above.
Dr. Olajide Adeleke Ayinla, Fellow Fisheries Society of Nigeria
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
