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Nigeria Aims to Increase Production, Reduce Reliance on Fish Imports

Lagos — Nigeria is losing over N105 billion ($6.3 million US) annually to fish importation in spite of the water body that Nigeria is endowed with, Lagos state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, has said. He said the state government is targeting the production of one million metric tons of fish by 2015 to reduce billions of naira the nation spends yearly on fish importation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th Annual Executive Weekend Training on Investment Opportunities in Fish Farming at Oko-Oba in Agege, Lagos, Lawal said the government was embarking on full aqua culture to enable the state achieve the target.

“Lagos is endowed with vast network of lagoons and rivers which make 22 per cent of its total land mass and an Atlantic Ocean coastline of about 180km. This ecological endowment confers on Lagos an enormous potential for fish production and makes fisheries and allied activities the dominant among rural populace.”

He said the state government would provide the needed supports to fish farmers as more outboards engines would be distributed to the fishermen in all the rural areas.

On the training, the commissioner said that it was crucial to keep the participants abreast of the latest innovation in the fish farming industry, assuring them of the government’s commitment to revive agricultural sectors in the state.

Source: All Africa

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