By: Celestine Ukah
A Bill for an Act to Establish The Federal Institute of Fisheries Research, Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, For Fishery Research, Education and Cooperative Training in Nigeria And to Make Comprehensive Provisions For Due Management And Administration And For Related Matters, 2021. HB sponsored by the Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi passes third reading at the Federal House of Representatives.
Hon. Eteyitomi explained that Ogidigben is a coastal community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State as well situated along the Escravos River with strategic proximity to other coastal communities within Warri Federal Constituency, neighbouring communities and states, adding that when established, the Fisheries Institute will be accessible, not only to the people of Warri Federal Constituency, but also to Nigerians at large.
It would be recalled that The Warri National Assembly Member,had Wednesday July 14, 2021 at plenary stressed that the coastal communities within the Warri Federal Constituency produce over 30 percent of Nigeria’s mainstay economy but have very little or nothing to show for it in the area of education, social amenities, development or even federal presence.
The Bill was passed by the House of Reps Tuesday December 13, 2022 to be transmitted to the President for assent after National Assembly legislative process.
Rep Ereyitomi said Fishery contributes about three to five percent to the agriculture share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Sadly, statistics revealed that importation of fish has served as a major supply of fish in Nigeria, providing more than half (56.0 percent) of fish supply.
According to the Warri Federal Parliamentarian, reports from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development revealed that Nigeria spent 97 Billion Naira on fish importation in 2010, in the analysis of major food imports obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics, fish was the second major food commodity with the highest import Bill between the period of 2006 -2010, with an annual average of N113.63 Billion, despite Nigeria’s endowed marine resources, rivers, lakes and creeks, he appealed to the Speaker of the House and his Honourable respected members to look inward in order to reduce the negative trend.
Hon. Ereyitomi revealed that Ogidigben as the proposed location of the Institute is ready to make available large acres of land for the construction and take-off of the institute as soon as the bill is assented to by the President.
He commended his colleagues in the Green Chamber for their cooperation towards the passage of the Bill.
