FCT to get six new fish markets, Minister

By Henry Umoru
MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed yesterday that arrangements have been concluded for the establishment of Fish Farm Estates in all the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory where Fish Markets will also be sited.

According to him, as part of moves to actualize this, the Administration has already completed the pilot scheme of the Fish Farm Estate including the market in Bwari Area Council that would be commissioned soon.

Speaking in his office while inaugurating the new Executive Committee members of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Fishermen and Seafood Dealers (NUFAS), the Minister immediately ddirected the Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to look at the International Fish Market, Kado-Abuja and find ways of modernizing its equipment/operations aimed at bringing it at par with its contemporaries in other parts of the World with the target of self-sustenance.

Senator  Mohammed who called for closer cooperation between the Union and the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat; stressed  that such relationship will avail the membership of the Union with technical knowhow and in-depth knowledge of the current happenings around the globe on the sub-sector which will go a long way to assist them.

According to him, the cooperation and collaboration will also assist in bringing down the high cost of fish to a level of affordability to the ordinary residents of the Federal Capital Territory as there will be more fish in our markets while the natural law of demand and supply will come to play.

“We intend to be self-sufficient in fish and other aquaculture products in the next few years as well as for export; and have therefore put in place a viable strategy to achieve these objectives”, he said.

The Minister assured that his administration will give sufficient support to fishery extension services to improve the productive efficiency of fishermen in the Territory, adding that the Administration will consider genuine requests for land in the Fish Farm Estates being established in the Territory with plans to embark on a programme of re-seeding numerous natural fish ponds and water bodies in the Territory with adequate fingerlings to boost fish production.

Responding on behalf of the new executive members, the Chairman, Yunusa Halidu who noted that the Fish Farm Estates when commissioned will go a long way in improving fish farming in the Territory thereby improve the fortunes of his members, however promised to cooperate with the FCT Administration to take fish production to the next level in the FCT.

Others are Ibrahim Okpale    -P.R.O; Sylvester Ekemhaye-Welfare Officer; Evelyn Nasamu (Mrs.)-Women Leader; Celestine Chibuzo –Auditor; Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman –Provost;  Alhaji Ali Abubakar – Chairman Ex-Officio; Alhaji Ibrahim Garkwa -Zonal Inspector; Mr. Abadnego -Zonal Inspector.