FG Targets 15 Million Tonnes of Fish for Export, Empowers Women

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The federal government through its poverty alleviation programme is targeting the production of 18 million tonnes of fish of which 15 million would be exported to other countries.

The government has also purchased and distributed 368 empowerment equipment for women in 15 states in the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

The machines include garri processing and frying machines, industrial sewing machines, fish smoking machines, four thousand litres fish bucket and rice milling machine amongst others.

Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy- Ohanenye, said with only 10 per cent of women owning properties, the initiative was bent on opening doors of entrepreneurship and subsistence for women who were majorly below the poverty line.

The government urged Nigerians to access the portal it has created for registration.

She said already, the ministry was in talks with the military and other ministries such as education and agriculture for the provision of security, seedlings and mire machines for the empowerment of more women.

“The ministry is interested in getting women to farm in which insecurity has prevented. With this, we have partnered with the Army towards providing security as they engage in farming, and the provision of tractors. With this, the price of food items is bound to come down.

“With only 10 percent of women owning properties, we hope to change the story through the medium of inclusivity as that is not good enough.

“Nigeria needs two million tonnes of fish, but we are targeting 15 million for the purpose of export. It will be available and affordable. We are not after profit, but working towards abundant food in the nation,” she added.

The beneficiary states are Anambra, Kano, Rivers Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue and Jigawa.