The House of Representatives on Tuesday, threatened to probe all licences granted for fish importation within the last one year in the country.
The lower chambers affirmed that fishery sub sector has been able to boost employment in the country adding that it has also enhanced an increase in the number of fish farmers with latest technology.
According to Honourable Jonathan Gaza (PDP-Nasarawa), who moved the motion, maintained that in the last couple of years, Nigeria had gone through recession and recovered due to diversification of the nation’s economy, especially in the area of boosting agriculture.
He called for an urgent investigation into the recent issuance of licences for fish importation in Nigeria.
Gaza, said that fishery was an important industry in Nigeria and agriculture place a key role with her vast coastline like lakes ,creeks and other dams and ponds.
He said that calls have been made by various quarters, including the hallowed chambers, to ban the importation of fish into the country as it had a negative effect on the nation’s economy.
Gaza also said that one could not ascertain the total health status of all the fish imported into this country all the time.
He expressed worry that even with pronouncements by the Federal Government to ban fish importation to encourage local farmers to support Federal Government’s diversification policy, licenses were still given to importers.
According to him, these importers have turned Nigeria into a dumping ground for all manner of fish.
Gaza said that if this continued, the gains that had been recorded by our local fish farmers and jobs created will be lost.
“Fish importation is not sustainable and if the Federal Government does not urgently look into the matter and rescind its policy on the issuance of licences for fish importation.
“It will continue to bring about backward integration in the nation with people not being able to set up fish farms or employ people and create jobs,” he added.
Gaza recalled that in the past, the Minister of State for Agriculture held a meeting with the ljebu Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja sometime in Aug. 2017.
The lawmaker said that the minister, during the meeting, stated that the Federal Government will stop issuance of fish importation quota to importers saying the venture was no longer sustainable.
