FG determined to sustain fishery industry to boost the economy ―Minister

IN her bid to diversify the economy, the Federal Government has expressed its determination to jointly protect the waterways within the West Central Gulf of Guinea in order to improve the economy of the member states.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri made the statement during the inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Conference which will hold in Abuja.

The Minister said, Nigeria hosted the 5th session of the conference and it is now hosting the 10th session for the second time which will hold from 12th to 15th December, 2017 in Abuja at Transcorp Hilton.

He revealed that Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected to declare the conference open.

Senator Lokpobiri noted that, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is a Sub-regional, Inter-governmental Fisheries Organization comprising of six Countries, three Anglophone and three Francophone including Liberia, Cote d’ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

On his part the Director of Fisheries in the Ministry who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Alhaji Muazu Muhammed enumerated some of the highlights of the events which include exhibitions and gala night to mark the Committee’s 10th anniversary (2007-2017), which will attract Stakeholders in the fisheries industry from within and outside Nigeria to deliberate on issues affecting the sub-sector in the sub-region and also proffer solutions.

The Local Organizing Committee are drawn from relevant institutions comprising the host Ministry (Federal Ministry of Agriculture), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Nigeria Police, Custom Service, Ecowas etc.

The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) was established by a convention signed on 7th November, 2007 to promote cooperation among the member states and to support them to achieve sustainable fisheries management of all fishery resources within the area of competence.