Hottestgistnaija.com
The much awaited self sufficiency in fish production in the country is presently already in serious jeopardy as a result of the on-going infighting, wrangling and scheming among the top officers in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Department. Already the four substantive directors have become casualties, as two most senior directors-Akinde Atanda
and Mrs Abiodun Oritsejeni Cheke have been suspended from work over doubtful reasons, while the other two remaining directors- Alh Mohammed Manzu and Pastor Remi Abioye have been denied assuming duty since their promotions were confirmed in writing.
Surprisingly, in the middle of these unwholesome power play were the Minister-Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Permanent Secretary-Mrs Ibukun Odusote, and an Acting Director-Deaconess Areola who is junior to all the 4 embattled directors.
Ministry sources, falling short of calling it an ethnic ministry, blamed the sorry state of affairs on the fact that both Mrs Odusote and Areola were allegedly brought in by the Minister on arrival in the ministry. It was therefore doubtful whether they have been giving him unbiased advice and guide in the interest of the nation.
Because, apart from already putting the proposed national fish production sufficiency in dire straights, the alleged selfish wrangling in the department of Fisheries has dislocated almost all the ancillary processes towards the policy realization.
According to ministry sources, jobs of all the 4 directors were put on the line apparently to pave way for the acting Director to continue to have her way while the minister was constantly kept aloof of true situation of things around him. An unconfirmed source accused the Acting Director of running a strange policy that has derailed the agriculture transformation programme of Mr President, an act which she began with her obvious failure to brief the Minister properly on the programme and or the successes already recorded in the proposed self-sufficiency in fish production in the country.
The FG, before her arrival had already sunk so much funds into the project which led to the establishment of Fish-Farm Estate Development value chain programme. Stakeholders who spoke to journalists expressed strong feeling that the Minister and Permanent Secretary have not been properly briefed of the commitment of the FG and some registered fish farmers in the disbursement of over N600m grant to prospective fish farmers that were executed in an agreement with a commercial bank that will provide the seven digit loan to these farmers.
The permanent secretary, Mrs Odusote had in a presentation at a regional workshop on aquaculture held in Lagos during the week said that the FG was determined to achieving self-sufficiency in fish production by next year. That already, the ministry was promoting production of male tilapia, niloticus, gymnarchus, heterotisni-loticus and heererobrancnus among other species.
She went ahead to list out other efforts towards achieving the Presidential transformation initiative in fish production which the ministry has embarked on, including a synergy and collaboration with the relevant research agencies and organizations in the country.
But a stakeholder in the sector, Chief Maurice Ebo disagreed with her, pointing out that “her assertion and optimism was misleading as no realistic facilities have been put on ground directly or otherwise to show commitment towards achieving the lofty presidential programme in the country.”
He said that instead the top officials in the ministry have truncated a smooth process and abrogated the existing contract with bonafide fish farmers, while allegedly disbursing the FG grant unilaterally to non-farmers.
Ebo also said there has never been any meeting or tour of stakeholders with the minister since he assumed duty. “So, with this wide gap between him and the farmers how can any one think the self sufficiency in the fish production in the country would be achieved”, Ebo asked rhetorically.
He urged for a review of pattern in the ministry.
The ministry was also accused of continuing to approve importation of fish into the country despite the last December ban by the FG.
