The federal government has disclosed plans to partner with the government of Greece to train and empower youths from the Niger Delta region on ship building acquisition and fishing.
According to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, the move partnership with the Greece counterpart will further address issues surrounding poaching of Nigerian fish species by foreigners.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs who disclosed when he received the representative of the Greece government in Nigeria, reiterated that the Ministry is committed to improving the standard of living of the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria in general.
“This initiative is commendable and will reduce militancy and crises of unemployment in the country.”
The Minister in a statement signed by Dewortshe Patricia, Director of Press, noted that the partnership will empower the youths in the Niger Delta Region, stop the illegal fishing on Nigerian shore and also give Nigerians the opportunity to explore the value chain in the fishing industry.
Akpabio said that the host communities will be involved in the whole process to enable them own the project and provide the enabling environment for successful hosting of the dockyard.
“Most areas in the Niger Delta may not be good for fishing because of oil exploration however, the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta state and the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State can be used as the training ground for the ship building progamme,” he said.
To ensure that the whole process is domesticated, Senator Akpabio and the Minister of state, Festus Keyamo set up a 5-man committee to work out detailed modalities of the training programme adding that any nation that cannot feed itself is yet to start.
Patrick Osabase, Chairman, Concept Amadeus Limited, representing the Greece government said that the partnership program will create employment for the youths in the Niger Delta region and enhance their potentials in the fishing industry adding that Nigeria lost about $10 billion yearly to untapped resources in the fishing industry.