From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
The Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN), Taraba State Chapter, has endorsed Governor Agbu Kefas for a second term in office in recognition of his numerous contributions to the association.
According to the association, Governor Kefas has recognised and supported it since the beginning of his administration, hence the endorsement.
The Acting National President of the association and National Coordinator of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chain Database Capture Programme, Mr. Mashi Gabriel Sani, performed the exercise alongside members of the association during a press briefing in Jalingo recently.
While commending Governor Agbu Kefas for his support, Sani urged the state government to develop a comprehensive fisheries master plan and database, establish input supply and hatchery centres, among other measures, and introduce special programmes for women and youths.
”I will use this opportunity to ensure that Taraba’s fisheries potential and the challenges confronting fish farmers and fisherfolk are properly represented at the national level,” he said.
Sani said the federation was proposing the development of a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Programme for Taraba State from 2027.
The proposed programme would include a comprehensive fisheries master plan, a fisheries and aquaculture database, input supply and hatchery centres, aquaculture clusters, fish-processing and cold-chain facilities, improved access to finance, and special programmes for women and young people.
”We also strongly recommend consideration of a dedicated Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture or a properly empowered State Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Agency to give the sector the institutional attention it deserves.
”Our message today is simple: Taraba has the water resources. Taraba has the people. Taraba has the opportunity. What we need now is deliberate investment, proper coordination and sustained government support.
”If properly developed, fisheries and aquaculture can become one of the major pillars of Taraba’s economy, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs while improving food security, household incomes and rural livelihoods.
”We are ready to work with the Taraba State Government, the Federal Government, development partners, investors, financial institutions and our cooperative members to transform this vision into practical results,” he stated.
The acting national president further said fisheries could contribute to food production, employment generation and economic diversification in Taraba State, adding that the time to invest in the state’s fisheries and aquaculture sector was now.
He also commended the Kefas administration for what he described as improvements in security and education.
”In the past, our members could not go fishing because of insecurity. Some of them went fishing but never returned. However, with the coming of Governor Kefas, our members can go fishing and return home safely,” he said.
On education, Sani praised the governor’s free education policy, saying it had reduced the financial burden on parents.
”We appreciate Governor Kefas for his free education policy. The burden on many parents has been reduced. The government pays half of the fees while parents pay the balance in our tertiary institutions,” he said.
He reaffirmed the federation’s support for the governor’s re-election bid, saying, “We want to categorically state that we are endorsing the governor for a second term.”
