The Federal Government on Thursday drew the attention of Nigerians to what it described as unhealthy smuggled frozen fish especially farmed Tilapia being circulated in the Nigerian market.
The government also said that necessary measures were being put in place including visiting cold rooms to fish out the perpetrators and fine them $250,000 or imprison them for 5 years.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said the smugglers were undermining the efforts of backward integration which the government was pursing to make Nigeria self sufficient in local fish production.
According to him “it has become necessary for the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to address the Nigerian public on the sale of smuggled unhealthy frozen fish especially farmed Tilapia in Nigeria. These smuggled frozen fish are harmful to the health of Nigerians.
“This ugly trend will undermine the concerted efforts for backward integration which the present leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is vigorously pursuing to make Nigeria self sufficient in local fish production and reduce the heavy bill on fish importation which has been a burden on our country”.
Lokpobiri said the smugglers were bringing in all sorts of frozen fish including Tilapia, Red Pacus, River Bream, Pangassius, Horse Mackerel, Sardine, and Croaker through the land borders which is prohibited.
“These unpatriotic individuals sabotage the efforts of the government despite the extant fish importation policy and prohibition of frozen farmed fish importation into the country”, the Minister added.
He therefore said the department of fisheries and aquaculture in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the only competent authority empowered by the Nigeria Sea Fisheries Act Cap S4 2004 Laws of the Federation to issue Distant Water Fishing License Category “C” for importation of frozen fish and other fish products into Nigeria.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has put in measures to arrest, detain and prosecute offenders as provided in Sea Fisheries Act Cap S4 Laws of the Federation 2004.such persons would be dealt with as criminals and economic saboteurs.
“In the light of the above, the ministry is using this medium to warn those involved, colluding, aiding and abetting in these nefarious activities to stop or face the full wrath of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Importation of frozen fish without license attracts five (5) years imprisonment or a fine of $250,000 or both in addition to forfeiture and destruction of the vessel and its products”, Lokpobiri noted.
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