Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to stop the planned concession of the Kirikiri Fishing Terminal in Apapa Lagos.
Amaechi gave the directive in Lagos on Monday at a maritime conference.
The directive came shortly after the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA) condemned the move by the NPA which they claim will kill the fishing industry in Nigeria.
The Minister said that letters have been written to him by Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, kicking against the concession of the Phase 1 and 2 of Kirikiri to container terminal companies.
Speaking directly to the Executive Director Finance and Administration of NPA; Mr. Olumide Oduntan, Amaechi said, "I think you should tell your MD that they should stop further action there, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has written to me, also there is a Presidential approval that reversed Obasanjo, so we need to look into all these"
"After seeing the ministry of Agriculture we may need to see the President, if he feels there is a strong argument from the ministry, he may need to reverse it, if this happens i will get back to you" he said.
The minister’s directive came, at the same event where former president of NITOA, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi had cried out that about 90% of the fishes consumed in Nigeria are imported, but she lamented that the facilities where the trawler owners operate from is being threatened by NPA.
She said that fishing companies operating at the KLT phase 1 and 2 had invested more than N3billion at the terminal.
According to her, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had granted approval that Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Phase 1 and 2 should be made Federal Fishing Terminal. She however alleged that NPA is crippling the efforts of the private sector
"The fishing trawler terminal is now being driven out of that facility and it is being used as container stacking space, some politicians are trying to take it over, after we have invested over 3boillion dollars in the maintenance of that facility" she said
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Mr. Audu Ogbeh at the event, Mrs. O.B Adepegba, the Deputy Director and Head, Fish Quality Assurance & Fish Disease Management however called on government to revisit the establishment of the fishing terminals as it has enormous benefits for the development of the industry.
She also called for the security of the investments of fishing trawler operators who she said had many times suffered sea pirate attacks which resulted in both loss of businesses and even deaths.
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