The Lagos State Government has promised to increase its fish production by at least 60,000 metric tonnes to bridge the huge demand deficit in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, made the promise in Lagos, recently, at a news conference to unveil the forthcoming Lagos Seafood Festival coming up on December 13 at the Muri Okunola Park, Lagos.
According to the commissioner, the current production is about 174,000 metric tonnes of fish annually while the demand stands at over 400,000 metric tonnes, hence the need to address the huge deficit of over 226,000 metric tonnes.
“The demand for fish in Lagos is well over 400,000 metric tonnes and what we are producing as a state is roughly at about 174,000 metric tonnes; so, there is a huge deficit of about 226,000 metric tonnes”, she said.
She explained further that the additional 60,000 metric tonnes of fish would include both fingerlings and table size production.
Olusanya said that with additional production at the Lagos Acquaculture Centre (LACE), the state would harvest over 60,000 metric tonnes of fish over a period of time, through registered and artisanal fishermen.
She said that registration has commenced in five divisions of the state to capture the youths, adding that the target is to register over 10,000 fishermen.
“We have partnered with some private financial institutions and right now registrations are ongoing in some fishing locations in the five divisions in the state, Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe”, she stated.
The commissioner said this year’s edition of the seafood festival would focus on the need to harness the seafood potentials of the state in a post COVID-19 economy.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos