By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
As the 2027 elections draw closer, more organisations, unions and cooperative societies have continued to express support for the re-election of Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, for a second term.
The Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN) has joined other groups in endorsing Kefas for a second term in office in 2027.
The federation’s Acting National President, Mashi Gabriel Sani, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chain Database Capture Programme (NFAVCDCP), made the position known through his representative, Christopher Naganti Gana, while briefing journalists in Jalingo.
Sani expressed appreciation to Kefas for recognising fisheries and aquaculture as sectors capable of creating thousands of jobs and reducing unemployment in the state.
According to him, Taraba is naturally endowed with rivers, lakes, dams and wetlands, but these resources have not been adequately developed to their full economic potential.
”For many years, fisheries and aquaculture have received insufficient attention and investment.
”Fish farmers, fisherfolk, processors, traders, women and young people continue to face challenges, including the high cost of feed, inadequate supplies of fingerlings, limited access to finance, poor processing and cold-chain infrastructure, weak extension services and limited market opportunities. We believe that this must change,” he said.
Sani welcomed the governor’s indication that the state would, from 2027, develop strategic measures to harness its aquatic resources to boost fisheries, improve food security, promote processing, create jobs and support community livelihoods.
He disclosed that new opportunities were also emerging at the federal level, noting that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had constituted a Technical Committee on Accelerating Fish Production in Nigeria.
According to him, the committee is tasked with identifying practical measures to increase fish production, strengthen the value chain and create employment opportunities.
”I am particularly honoured to serve as a member of that federal technical committee as a son of Taraba State and as Acting National President of FCFN.
”I will use this opportunity to ensure that Taraba’s fisheries potential and the challenges confronting fish farmers and fisherfolk are properly represented at the national level,” he said.
Sani said the federation was proposing the development of a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Programme for Taraba State from 2027.
The proposed programme would include a comprehensive fisheries master plan, a fisheries and aquaculture database, input supply and hatchery centres, aquaculture clusters, fish-processing and cold-chain facilities, improved access to finance, and special programmes for women and young people.
”We also strongly recommend consideration of a dedicated Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture or a properly empowered State Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Agency to give the sector the institutional attention it deserves.
”Our message today is simple: Taraba has the water resources. Taraba has the people. Taraba has the opportunity. What we need now is deliberate investment, proper coordination and sustained government support.
”If properly developed, fisheries and aquaculture can become one of the major pillars of Taraba’s economy, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs while improving food security, household incomes and rural livelihoods.
”We are ready to work with the Taraba State Government, the Federal Government, development partners, investors, financial institutions and our cooperative members to transform this vision into practical results,” he stated.
The acting national president further said fisheries could contribute to food production, employment generation and economic diversification in Taraba, adding that the time to invest in the state’s fisheries and aquaculture sector was now.
He also commended the Kefas administration for what he described as improvements in security and education.
”In the past, our members could not go fishing because of insecurity. Some of them went fishing but never returned. However, with the coming of Governor Kefas, our members can go fishing and return home safely,” he said.
On education, Sani praised the governor’s free education policy, saying it had reduced the financial burden on parents.
”We appreciate Governor Kefas for his free education policy. The burden on many parents has been reduced. The government pays half of the fees while parents pay the balance in our tertiary institutions,” he said.
He reaffirmed the federation’s support for the governor’s re-election bid, saying, “We want to categorically state that we are endorsing the governor for a second term.”