PRESS RELEASE- NIGERIA POISED TO BOOST PRODUCTION OF FISH AND AQUACULTURE - MINISTER OF STATE, AGRICULTURE.

Fish

Worried by the low level of development in aquaculture in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has expressed the readiness of the present administration to increase the level of fish production and aquaculture in the country.

The Minister stated this when he received in audience a 4 – man  delegation of World Fish officials  led by  the Country Representative Director Dr. Harrison Chris Karisa in his  office today.

Senator Lokpobiri who was happy to receive the delegation stated that “Nigeria is poised to change the narrative in fish and aquaculture. We need to maximize the limited time to achieve world fish initiative”.

The Minister noted that Nigeria’s investment in Agriculture increased to   100 Billion Naira increase in 2017 from 15 billion Naira it was in 2015 and expressed optimism that sustainable fish production will also boost   national revenue as well as serve as remedies of malnutrition and protein deficiency intake in Nigeria.

He  assured the delegation that the country will partner the World Fish   which is a highly reputable  and respected organization as expert in the  production of  Tilapia which is more affordable for the poor masses .

Earlier, one  of the delegates, Professor Yusuf Abubakar has  expressed the desire of his organization to establish a Nigerian country  office   with   more emphasis on boosting Tilapia fish industry in Nigeria, saying the country has lesson to learn from Egypt which today is the 3^rd world producer of   Tilapia fish.

Professor  Abubakar also said  the Fish Research  Organization would  also  build capacities  of the  Research Institutes which  would  in turn enhance the capacity of small holder farmers for a new programme in Tilapia fish  production.

He assured that Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation is ready to fund the proposed Word Fish Centre Nigeria fishing programmme.

The visit by the delegation of World Fish Organization to the Ministry was a build up  to the 2 day stakeholders’  workshop  on development of World Fish Research in Nigeria which is being organized  by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with  World Fish .