, Accuse Ministry Of Hidden Agenda
*insist on implementation of one-man, one- fish pond FG policy
From Chuks Collins, Awka
Dec 22, 2013
An association of fish farmers in the country have accused the ministry of Agriculture have protested the sudden ban on importation of fish into the country when the policy of one-man, one-fish pond of the Federal Government has not been actualized.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Awka during a meeting of about 2000 delegates representing members of the Fish-farm Estate Developers Association, (FEDA) the national President of the association, Chief Maurice Ebo disclosed that when the Minister of Agriculture assumed office, he promised to boost fish production in the country through the farmers.
He said that unfortunately nothing has worked out, as no meeting has taken place between them and the Minister, let alone providing them with the FG fish expansion grant.
That the Fisheries Society of Nigeria(FISON) in October 2010 under the supervision of the incumbent acting director of Fisheries as ?President of FISON honored FEDA for outstanding performance in fish production. They had encouraged them to keep up with the zeal, hoping it would soon provide the nation with the required tonnage for local consumption, and even some for export.
Ebo said it was therefore surprising for the Acting director and the Minister to turn their back on FEDA since assuming power. That even when they extracted an appointment from the Minister at an official function, he failed to ?it. The association had made several attempts to see the Minister but was always frustrated by his aides.
The FEDA boss therefore expressed worry that Nigerians would experience excruciating hardship sourcing fish from the new year when the new ban on importation of fish takes effect. He blamed the yawning production gap in fish production from the national consumption requirement on the unilateral breach of the tripartite agreement entered into by FEDA, Fidelity Bank and the Ministry on the systematic approval and release of the grant to his members.
He said the members have resolved to embark on a nationwide protest against the contract breach, if that would improve the situation of things and save Nigerians agony of expensive fish in the new year.
Already prices of different sizes of fish and fish products have skyrocketed ?nationwide ahead of the ban coming into force on?Dec 31,2013.
