Kunle Adelabu
Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), representative of Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has officially laid the foundation of an Ultra -Modern Fish Processing and Preservation Centre – a deliberate effort to bring back the traditional occupation of Ijede people which is fisheries and (also that) of other riverine areas in Ikorodu Division.
The project situated at Madan beside the Ijede Ferry Terminal facing the Lagoon in Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), will be first of its kind in the state. It is expected to be completed in six months.
The project initiated and facilitated by Hon. Aro Abiodun, a first -term lawmaker is being handled by the Ministry of Agriculture & Food System, Lagos State with Politimos Gold International Nigeria Limited, as project contractor.
Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture & Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, with Director and Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department also in attendance.
Also in attendance were the royal fathers in the constituency – His Royal Majesties Oba (Hon.) Adefarasin Saheed Hassan, the Alajede of Ijede, Oba (Dr.) Abdulhakeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba (Dr.) Mudashiru Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, and Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe. The Executive Chairmen, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo -Alogba, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun and Hon. Benson Sunday Ayodele, were also in attendance .
When completed, the project will have an Administrative Building comprising of a reception, visitors’ toilet, administrative Office with en-suite toilet, manager’s Office with en-suite toilet, while Factory Building will have male and female changing rooms with en-suite toilets, processing reception area, fish processing room, wet processing and packaging room, smoking Area.
Other features of the factory are cooling and packaging room, packaging materials store, dry finished products store, utilities store, chest freezer area, blast freezer area and cold room.
According to the lawmaker, the project is a major step towards boosting fish production, food security, job creation and economic development of Ijede, Ikorodu Division and the state as a whole.
“This is only the beginning of something much bigger that will benefit our people for many years to come. One thing that has always concerned me is the shortage and high cost of fish. Even though, we are surrounded and blessed with rivers and lagoon, but we have not fully used the natural gift to improve fish production.”
“This project is designed to change that. The fish hub will make good use of our natural waterways to rear fish on a large scale. This fish processing building will help us to process, preserve, and package and market fish properly.”
Hon Aro further elaborated on the grand project,
“This Fish Hub will reduce waste, increase fish production, create jobs for our youth and our women. It will also improve food security and make quality fish more available and affordable across Lagos State.”
The lawmaker emphasised that the initiative will open up many opportunities for youth and the community.
“Our goal is not just to build a structure. Our goal is to build a complete fish production and processing centre that will create opportunities, support businesses, improve the lives of our people and make Ikorodu Constituency II a leading centre for fish farming and fish processing in Nigeria.
“As we lay this foundation today, we are also laying the foundation for major jobs, more businesses, better food supply and stronger economic opportunities for our communities.”
Hon. AMA also called on governmental and private investors to partner with the initiative to create a sustainable business environment.
“I therefore call on government agencies, the private sector, development partners, financial institutions and other well-meaning Nigerians to support this vision. Together, we can build a successful fish industry that will serve our people and future generations.
“I believe that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, this important project will also become a reality and further contribute to the economic growth and development of our people.”
“When we look at our state generally, water has taken a major part of our land, and we cannot have water like this without making use of our natural habitat to contribute value to our economy.
“This structure is like 20% of what we will still want to build here. We want to make use of this waterfront with structure that can serve over 100 to 150 cages,” the lawmaker said.
The Agriculture Commissioner, Ms. Olusanya, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Emmanuel Fatai Audu, said that the project is to give to the fishermen through processing, preservation and creation of markets.
“It’s been long known, in fact, that artisan fishermen who constitute of course the major form of occupation within our fishing communities in Ijede, and also in Badagry to Epe to Ibejulekki axis do not get value for their fishing efforts.
“They will go on fishing expeditions, catch fish, and bring them back, but a good volume of the fish get lost in the post-harvest; close to 40 to 50 percent is lost and the ones that is not even are not able to make it to high-end markets because of lack of access and they are stampeded to sell at whatever price that they are able to find, which is usually below the cost price that they should get.”
He said that the challenges are what the initiative of the Fish Processing and Preservation Centre is meant to address and also boost the local and the state economy.
“So, the question is what do we do to address this situation? The concept came that there’s a need for us to scale our efforts in the establishment of fish processing facilities, such as the one that we have ongoing here.
“We began to implement various pilot fish processing centres across the state, But then, it became very important that we don’t just produce fish that cannot access international markets. So, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Division, the Marine and Blue Economy, it was decided that certification should be given to fish processing centres that are built in line with international standards and laid down procedures.
The state government under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, engaged consultants and also sought financing to build and develop processing centres in this state. And today, we are witnessing the model one that is in Ijede here today.”
He commended Hon. Aro Abiodun for partnering with the ministry to achieve the transformative project.
“How did this get here? We need to give a lot of credit to Hon. AMA, because he has shown how good the synergy between the state government executive and legislators when they partner and put hands together, and the benefit that it can bring down to our communities.
“Therefore, working with him, we have been able to secure this location, and then also, he facilitated the approval of his Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, to develop this processing centre that we are building here and formally laying the foundation of, today.
“What we are seeing here is a building, but that is just the last mile of the project. The question is, the fish that we process, where will it come from? And, I need to let us know, and we need to give support to our Honourable, because he is also pursuing how we can have modern and model fish production infrastructure in this community,” the Commissioner said.
The host Chairman, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo -Alogba, commended AMA for his quality representation, emphasising the need for Ijede to own the project.
“I will just emphasise more on thanking AMA. Thank you for making Ijede proud and not taking it to Imota or Igbogbo (general laughter)
“It’s our time, so we will use it well,” she said.
While assuring that the project will be completed and made functional within time, the Ijede Council boss urged residents to support and own the project.
“Honourable AMA has brought this to us, so, my dear people of Ijede, whenever this project is operational, let us own it. Let’s utilise it well,” she charged.
Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, who described the Ikorodu representative as the best in the state emphasised the need to develop capable hands to take charge of the facility when completed.
He stated that the project will revive the collapsed fish business not only in Ijede but also Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA which he said is surrounded more by the Lagoon.
Aroyewun also urged AMA to always remember Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA for impactful projects like the fish hub because the council gave him about 70% of his votes.
Also speaking, Hon. Benson Sunday Ayodele, Imota Chairman, also extended his appreciation for the project which he said would be of great benefit to the entire Ikorodu Constituency II.
The council boss who said that he will be coming down to buy fish in Ijede when the facility is operational, emphasised that fish farmers and sellers will not have any cause to take their fish to Ikorodu again to sell cheaply.
Royal fathers at the event also lauded Hon. AMA, stressing that the initiative is a right step in the right direction.
