The Lagos State Government,through the Ministry of agriculture and cooperatives in collaboration with Lagos State Agricultural Inputs and Supply Authority, has flagged-off Artisanal Fishing Inputs Service Delivery Programme at Orimedu Beach, Ibeju Lekki, where fishing inputs worth over N17 million were presented to five registered fishermen cooperative societies in Orimedu Beach.
On the occasion, the Federal government said is presently making arrangement with the state government to engage in massive fish production as part of measure to boost local production in the country.
According to the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, represented by Dr. Olajide Ayinla, Head Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, of the FG, the partnership was in view of the trail blazing efforts of the state government in agriculture aimed at boosting food production locally.
Adeshina noted that fishing business in the state contributes the highest fishing in Nigeria due to its natural water endowment.
”The federal government is ready to partner with Lagos state government in fishing to boost local production and discourage importation that will save the hard currencies annually being spent on fish importation.
”The era of state doing their thing and federal doing theirs has gone, it is partnership now, and we are not looking back on this.”
The minister, expressed optimism that the 780,000 metric tonnes of fish imported annually could be reduced with partnership with the state.
Speaking on the occasion, a lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said the move was crucial to address whopping N105billion hard earned Nigeria money being spent on importation of 780,000 metric tonnes of fish annually.
Ashafa, who described the move as a new dawn in the development of artisanal fishing in the state, noted that the programme is also to address low fish production as intervention through the provision of needed implement which he state government is doing.
Ashafa, who donated N500,000 to be shared among each member of the cooperative societies, later led other dignitaries to present a complete fishing gear comprising of: two boats, two 40 Horse Power, PH, outboard engines, bundles of fishing nets, ropes, twines, refrigerated van and other accessories worth f N3.41million each to the five cooperatives for fishing expedition.