Bayelsa, European consortium sign MoU on fishery, to train 2,500, employ 4,000

Bayelsa State’s focus on the development of agriculture has received a boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a European fishing consortium and some Nigerian firms.

The deal with the consortium, Africa Atlantic Gulf of Guinea Fisheries (AAGGF), was facilitated by the Federal Government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta, Ita Enang.

Governor Douye Diri disclosed during the signing ceremony at the Government House, Yenagoa that the pact would generate employment for no fewer than 4,000 youths and that 2,500 would be trained in fish farming and given European Union certification.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Alabrah, yesterday, affirmed that the governor assured the consortium of his administration’s support and expressed the hope that the MoU would translate into a workable contractual agreement.

He listed the benefits of the pact to include training of 2,500 youths by the Greece-based University of Patras and award of European Union standard certification.

Diri also said the deal involved the creation of 4,000 jobs in the first year as well as the construction of a boat building yard with trawlers and fish processing plant of over 20,000-metric tonnes capacity and a 300-hectare offshore aquaculture farm.

He called on the youths to take advantage of the opportunity rather than dissipating energy on profitless ventures and urged foreign investors to take a cue from the African Atlantic Gulf of Guinea Fisheries by exploring the investment opportunities that abound in the state.

Speaking, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, David Alagoa, said the consortium would create about 4,000 jobs in its first year and establish three factories in the state.

He listed the factories to include a boat-building yard, which is expected to build 250 boats for fishing and security, a fish processing factory with 20,000-metric tonnes capacity and 300 hectares offshore aquaculture farm.

On his part, Enang disclosed that the deal would earn foreign exchange, protect Nigeria’s currency well as train and employ citizens in lucrative ventures as well as providing food for Nigerians. 

He commended Diri and the state executive council for taking what he described as a quantum leap in Nigeria beyond the Federal Government’s oil project.