By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, in a move aimed at strengthening technical manpower for Nigeria’s blue economy.
The bill was passed following the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Ocean and Fisheries, presented by its Chairman, Hon. Akarachi Etinosa Amadi, during plenary.
The legislation seeks to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, by incorporating the proposed institution into the Third Schedule of the Act, thereby granting it statutory recognition as a federal tertiary institution.
Presenting the committee’s report, Amadi recalled that the House debated the general principles of the bill on May 7, 2025, before referring it to the committee for further legislative action.
He disclosed that the committee conducted a public hearing on July 14, 2025, during which stakeholders from the maritime, education and host communities overwhelmingly supported the proposal, recommending its passage.
According to him, the proposed college is designed to provide specialised training in fisheries management, aquaculture and marine engineering, while addressing the shortage of skilled manpower in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He said the institution would also expand access to technical and vocational education, particularly in the Niger Delta, and promote sustainable economic development in riverine communities.
Amadi explained that the bill contains three clauses, with the key provision inserting the college into the Third Schedule of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act.
He noted that the inclusion would provide the institution with the legal framework required to operate as a federal college, making it eligible for federal funding and enabling it to carry out its mandate in fisheries technology and marine engineering.
Following the clause-by-clause consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the House adopted the report and passed the bill.
If eventually enacted into law, the college is expected to enhance human capacity development in the fisheries and maritime sectors while supporting the Federal Government’s drive to harness the economic potential of the blue economy.
