The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate all licenses granted for fish importation within the last one year with a view to reduce the negative impact on local fish production.
The House requested the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Bank of Agriculture to provide incentives to local fish farmers that would boost up production.
It also resolved that the ad-committee should conclude the investigation within two weeks and report back to the House for further legislative actions.
House of Representatives made the resolution on Tuesday at plenary following a motion of urgent public importance, moved by Jonathan Gaza(PDP, Nasarawa) on the need to investigate the recent issuance of licenses for fish importation in Nigeria.
During debate, the House: “noted that in the last few years, Nigeria has gone through a recession and has resurfaced and this recovery can be largely attributed to the diversification of our economy especially in the field of agriculture.
“Further noted that Fisheries which is an-important subsector of Nigerian agriculture with the country being rich in perennial rivers (Benue, Niger, Ogun, Osun etc) and lakes like kainji and other dams and pounds, and has also attracted a large influx of fish farmers using latest technology has led to an increase in fish production and employment;
“Aware that in the past, the minister of state for agriculture during a meeting with the ljebu initiative on poverty reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja sometime in August 2017, stated that the-Federal Government Will stop issuing fish importation quota to importers saying the venture was no longer sustainable.
“Also aware that frantic calls have been made by various quotas including this hallowed chambers to ban the importation of fish into the country as it has a negative effect on our economy and on our health as we cannot ascertain the total health status of all the fish imported into this country all the time.
“Worried that even with pronouncements by the federal government to ban fish importation in a bid to encourage local farmers to support Federal Government’s diversification policy, licenses are still given to importers who have turned Nigeria into a dumping ground for all manner of fish;
“Further worried that if this trend continues the gains that have been recorded by our local fish farmers and employment, that have been created will be lost.
“Disturbed that tish importation is not sustainable and if the Federal Government does not urgently look into the matter and rescind its policy on the issuance of iicenses for fish importation, it will continue to bring about backward integration in the Nation with people not being able to set up fish farms or employ people and create jobs”.
Also at the plenary, the House rejected the Bill for an Act to Establish the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors of Nigeria for effective Regulation, Registration of Members and Determination of what knowledge and Skills that a Practitioner is required to attain in order to Qualify to Practice as a Forensic and Investigative Auditor.
The Bill which has passed first reading was rejected by the House for the conflicting role of the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors of Nigeria with similar professional bodies such as Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN.
The House however passed six bills after third reading. These are: Bills to; establish Nigeria Postal Commission, the Council for the Regulation of Travel and Tour Management Companies of Nigeria, enact the Nigerian Law Reform Commission; establish the Chartered Institute of Auctioneers, establish Federal Polytechnic Fagge in Kano and the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration.
James Kwen, Abuja
