The Niger Ministry of Livestock and Fishery, says that the state government has procured two boats worth N7.9 million to enhance fishing activities in the state.
Dr Jonathan Wasa, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, disclosed this in Minna on Wednesday.
“The Niger state government recently acquired two boats at the cost of N7.9 million to monitor aquatic live and artisanal fishing on our rivers.
“We will use the boats to ensure that our artisanal fishermen adhere to best practices in fishing,’’ he said.
Wasa said that before now, all the boats used by the fishery department were bad.
The commissioner said that one of the boats would be used at the fishing area in Shiroro Dam, while the other being coupled would be put used at Kainji Dam, another fishing community in the state.
He said that government had concluded arrangements to distribute recommended fishing inputs such as fishing nets and hooks, among others to the more than 20, 000 artisanal fishermen in the state.
Wasa said that government had rehabilitated some ponds at the Tagwai fish hatchery in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the department of fishery had established hatchery at the dam with the intention of providing fingerlings and table sized fish this year.
“We also want to use the Tagwai fish hatchery as a learning centre for youths and other people that may want to go into fish farming,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that government had also created enabling environment for a Norwegian company to partner local fish farmers in the state to develop the sector.
“As I speak with you, the company has concluded its visibility studies and will soon start business,’’ he said.
He said that the company which would produce tilapia fish when it commenced operation aside partnering with local fish farmers to develop the sector, would employ 500 direct labour and 5, 000 indirect labour.
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