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Tag: fishing

  • Boost for Nigerian shrimp as U.S. bans non-compliant fishing

    Boost for Nigerian shrimp as U.S. bans non-compliant fishing

    Stakeholders are exploring strategies to boost Nigeria’s $53 billion shrimp industry as the United States enforces strict compliance with the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp fishing.

    Over the past five years, India has lost about $500 million following a U.S. ban on its export of wild-caught shrimp, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department also suspended Peru’s ability to export wild-caught shrimp after identifying shortcomings in its sea turtle protection programme.

    Under U.S. regulations and the federal government’s Section 609 programme, the U.S. State Department and NOAA Fisheries must certify foreign countries or fisheries as compliant with domestic requirements on the use of TEDs—devices that allow sea turtles to escape from shrimp trawler nets. To export wild-caught shrimp to the U.S., a country must prove it protects turtles at a level equivalent to U.S. standards.

    As a signatory to the FAO’s 1995 Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Nigeria is obligated to take measures to protect endangered sea turtles. This includes conducting research, developing technologies such as TEDs, and implementing regulations to safeguard these vulnerable species.

    Currently, Nigerian shrimp exporters and other frontline competing countries  face a long-standing U.S. ban on wild-caught shrimp from countries without mandatory TED use. The policy, central to U.S. marine conservation efforts, leaves exporters with two choices, according to Professor of Aquaculture at Cross River University of Technology, Stephen Ncha.

    “The first option is to export shrimp to countries without such restrictions. If these markets can absorb all their exports, there’s no problem. But if they cannot, the second choice is to install TEDs on shrimp trawlers. Once they show evidence of compliance, the U.S. will allow imports.

    Read Also: Oyetola: Fishery policy to boost economy, create jobs, curb illegal fishing, coming

    A TED is a simple grid of bars fitted into a shrimp trawl net, allowing shrimp to pass through while guiding larger animals like sea turtles out through an escape hatch,” Ncha explained.

    He warned that while alternative markets may offer short-term relief, they do not address long-term sustainability. “Equipping trawlers with TEDs aligns Nigerian fishing with global conservation standards,” he added.

    Immediate Past Director , Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, Prof. Daniel Ama-Abasi, said Nigeria already stands out in West Africa for its compliance record.

    “To the best of my knowledge, only Nigerian shrimpers have met the requirement in West Africa. In 2024, 23 Nigerian trawlers were inspected and certified as TED-compliant. Compliance opens the door to high-value markets like the U.S., where non-compliant countries are banned,” he said.

    According to Ama-Abasi, this gives Nigeria a competitive edge. “A ban on other countries will leave Nigeria as the sole exporter of shrimp in West Africa. Demand will rise, pushing prices up. This may explain the increase in shrimp exports—from $36 million in 2022 to $53 billion in the first nine months of 2024.”

    He, however, cautioned against overfishing. “Higher demand and limited supply could lead to over-capitalisation and excessive fishing, which is dangerous for the industry. Government must enforce strict regulations to avoid depleting stocks.”

    Emeritus Professor of Fisheries at Lagos State University, Martins Antekhai, stressed that Nigeria’s shrimp exports to the U.S. depend entirely on TED compliance. “Continued access to this lucrative market hinges on one critical piece of equipment—the Turtle Excluder Device. For Nigeria, this is not only about conservation but also about securing export certification,” he said.

    Antekhai explained that TEDs are designed to prevent bycatch. “Endangered sea turtles are often caught in shrimp nets, leading to drowning. TEDs significantly reduce this risk. Nigeria’s compliance journey began with training and legislation, supported by regular inspections. Each year, the country must prove to the U.S. that its fleet uses TEDs effectively,” he said.

    For Antekhai, Nigeria’s success proves that conservation and commerce can work together. “By protecting sea turtles, the country has secured its place in the global market.”

    According to Professor & Director, Centre for Research and Development Studies,University of Uyo, Lawrence Etim, Nigeria’s shrimp industry, could face  a potential setback if trawlers fail to use TEDs in line with American regulations. He observed: “ The U.S. is a modest but valuable buyer of Nigerian frozen shrimp, taking about $3.16 million worth—roughly 141 tonnes—in 2023. This was part of the country’s $38.5 million total shrimp export earnings that year, with products harvested by approximately 226 trawlers. Losing access to the U.S. market would mean less foreign income for exporters, processors, and workers across harvesting, processing and shipping sectors. In the past, Nigeria has been certified multiple times for meeting the TED requirement, with high compliance ratings recorded as recently as the 2024/2025 U.S. recertification exercise. If the U.S. market is closed, Nigerian exporters may divert shipments to European Union countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands, or to Japan, China and regional African markets. However, industry players fear that sudden redirection could lead to lower prices, slower demand, or export delays.”

    According to him ,  maintaining U.S. certification requires strict enforcement. This includes ensuring trawlers install approved TEDs, conducting regular inspections, keeping compliance records, and allowing verification visits from U.S. or third-party monitors. Shore-based inspectors must also be trained to sustain compliance year-round.

    “The cost of retrofitting a net with a TED is between $325 and $550 if imported from the U.S., or $75 to $100 if made locally. Spending a few hundred dollars per net is far cheaper than losing a multi-million-dollar export market,” Etim said.He urged government and private sector actors to provide support for retrofitting, including subsidies or bulk purchases to reduce costs for small operators. He also called for regular inspections, public reporting, and swift corrective measures to maintain Nigeria’s compliance record.

    Last year, two U.S. trade groups—the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and the Port Arthur Area Shrimpers’ Association (PAASA)—urged the U.S. State Department to strictly enforce the Section 609 programme, enacted in 1989, requiring TED use in all certified countries.

    In 2022, the U.S. certified 37 countries, 13 fisheries in seven other nations, and Hong Kong as meeting turtle protection standards. Certified countries include Argentina, the Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Russia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

  • Fishing in troubled waters

    Fishing in troubled waters

    Suddenly, chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have woken up from their slumber to interrogate the 23-man squad list submitted by Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The story in town is that the Portuguese coach was queried to explain why players who are not regulars in their different European clubs found their names in the list of the invited Nigerian players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup against the two above-mentioned countries.

    NFF’s query served on Jose Peseiro confirms fears in the past that foreign coaches run the rule over the federation’s technical committee by bypassing on the choice of players for different games. Football federations always insist on seeing the list of invited by speaking to the list to find out why those selected were the best in terms of how regularly they played for their European clubs. It is at such meetings that members with superior arguments impress it on the coaches to explain why the boy who scored four goals in the last six games is dropped for someone who has not scored since the league where he plays began 17 weeks ago.

    It amounts to a failure of leadership if the federation members ask brilliant questions after the list has been released. One would have thought that the players’ list would have undergone robust analyses among members of the technical committee and the coach without necessarily lording it on the coach who to play and otherwise. Matches are won from the bench. A team populated by players who sparingly play for the European teams cannot compete.

    Speaking at the pre-match press conference held on Wednesday in Uyo ahead of Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho, manager Jose Peseiro explained that Maduka Okoye opted out of the November qualifiers due to passport difficulties depending on what Peseiro meant by that excuse on Okoye’s behalf.

     “I have confidence in our goalkeepers. Of course, in that moment Adeleye could not come because he didn’t play in Israel. Maduka could not come because of the problem with his passport,” Peseiro said at the pre-match conference.

    “Uzoho was our goalkeeper in qualification. He only didn’t play one match, it was Adeleye who played against Sierra Leone. Now there’s Ojo and Amas. I believe in our goalkeepers, I believe in Uzoho also.”

    Peseiro also defended his decision not to invite Hapoel Jerusalem star Adebayo Adeleye, stressing that Adebayo Adeleye the Nigerian has been inactive for his club since September this year. Dear Peseiro, please listen to yourself. Who recruited Peseiro?

    Read Also: Gusau affirms NFF commitment to futsal, beach soccer

    It is a big indictment on Peseiro that goalkeeper Okoye opted out of Nigeria’s two World Cup qualifiers after the list was made public. Bendel Insurance Goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie was invited to replace Okoye. What this shows clearly is that Peseiro didn’t speak to Okoye if he would be available to play in the two matches, especially after Francis Uzoho’s fumbling displays in the country’s last two matches. Besides, inviting Uzoho back to the Eagles for crucial World Cup qualifiers is a case of blind fixation on Peseiro’s part and kills he morale of players to give their best during training sessions, knowing that the coach already has his players he wants to field even if three of them are reporting for training with walking sticks. It could be that Okoye opted out of the games because Peseiro would always parade Uzoho as the team’s goalkeeper even if he kicks the ball into the net.

    For Nigeria not to be made the laughing stock in the comity of soccer nations, Peseiro should be made to submit his technical reports for games played to the technical committee members to read and make their contributions. No foreigner can love our country more than us. The coach isn’t bound to do the members’ bidding since the buck stops on his desk. Nigeria is too big to always recruit visiting coaches for our matches, given the way in which our players play in Europe, the Americas, and  in the Diaspora.

    The World Cup ought to be an elixir of sorts for participating countries to introduce new players into their senior squads as replacements for either injury-prone players, the recuperating ones, and those who are aging and wouldn’t be able to compete at this competitive platform in the next four years. Indeed, the World Cup pens a new vista for players of countries who partook in the competition. The exemplary players end up being signed for huge sums of money by new clubs while those with subsisting contracts before the Mundial return to their different European clubs to secure more compelling wages to scare off moneybags’ teams from snatching them under the nostrils of their current employers.

    Super Eagles defenders aren’t good enough. They expose Uzoho and other goalkeepers to mesmerising strikers who dribble past Eagles’ defender like hot knife through butter. One would have thought that Kenneth Omeuro had played his last game for Nigeria with the way the  ease in which the Sierra Leoneans outran in the game played in Monrovia, Liberia. Not so with Peseiro who sends his list of invited players via Whatsapp to the key members of the team. Will NFF muster the courage to sack Peseiro before the next game if we hope to participate at the 2026 World Cup?

    Every country always strive to look for value when recruiting coaches to prosecute their World Cup. And it is obvious that Peseiro isn’t money for value in Nigerians’ quest for another World Cup outing in 2026. This dream would soon become a nightmare, except NFF ask Peseiro without any form of hesitation. Lesotho is ranked 153rd in the world. Any country desirous of playing at the World should beat Lesotho. Beating Lesotho ought to be a stroll in the park with a savvy tactician. Shouldn’t we beg the NFF to allow someone else to handle the next game for a change? But would it be fair to sack Peseiro with the huge debts the country owes him?

     Nigeria has the players to remain unbeaten in Group C to clinch the qualification ticket. We need to deemphasize experience in picking Super Eagles squad list. Countries have reduced the average playing age of their stars to between 22 and 26. It is the reason these countries are winners of big tournaments. Football is for the youth who acquire experience by playing regularly.  This regular changes of players exists in countries with thriving nurseries with discernable playing patterns across their national soccer teams.

    Other countries would have resolved the goalkeeping crises that Super Eagles is experiencing by going to their cadet teams to pick their goalkeepers unlike in Nigeria where we could even persuade a retired goalkeeper to return to the team. Need I name such retirees?

    Academies which are nurseries for warehousing the game have been standardised to protect the sector and backed by law for effectiveness. It is at this level that countries’ playing patterns evolve depending on what the coaches feel could bring the best from their nationals.  Standards are set for owning such academies including their curriculum to shut out quackery. These academies are registered by the country’s FA with the right synergy struck where players’ movement in and out of the country are documented.

    The serious-minded soccer nations expose players from academies who also have the template to monitor those who did well and have juicy packages in big clubs in Europe, Americas and the Diaspora. These academies ensure that the players’ career paths are cut to fit their ambitions. Those of them eager to combine playing soccer with going to school are enrolled to be educated. They also have drawn up training schedules to suit their schools’ curriculum, knowing the importance of education when their career as soccer players is over. Nothing happens in such countries as an accident.

  • Military to clear Lake Chad for fishing, farming

    The military has said it will clear the Lake Chad Basin of Boko Haram remnants to ensure the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the resumption of fishing and farming.

    The Commander Operation Last hold of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Abba Dikko, addressed a news conference yesterday.

    It was coordinated by the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas.

    According to Dikko, the operation will be used as part of the 2018 Army Day Celebration, and to facilitate the return of displaced persons. He added that the operation will last for four months.

    He said: “Undeterred by the mutating posture of the Boko Haram, the Army is determined to consolidate on its recent gains in the ongoing push, especially in the Northern part of Borno.

    “Accordingly, this year’s Nigeria Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2018 will be commemorated with the conduct of Operation Last Hold in Northern Borno within the Northeast Theatre.

    “The design is to deploy personnel and equipment to showcase the Army’s combat efficiency, and thereafter conduct operations to totally destroy Boko Haram locations in the Lake Chad Basin general area.

    “Operation Last Hold is expected to last for four months, and it will entail deployment of additional manoeuvre brigades and other critical assets in Borno State.

    “The operation is intended to facilitate the clearance of the Lake Chad waterways of sea weeds and other obstacles obstructing the movement of boats and people across the water channels. It will also ensure the destruction of Boko Haram terrorist camps and strong points in the Lake Chad Basin general area.

    “The operation will facilitate the rescue of hostages. The end-state of Operation Last Hold is the total defeat of the Boko Haram terrorist sect in northern Borno. This will pave way for the return of local administration and people to their responsibilities and communities.

    “Strategically, Operation Last Hold will restore fishing, farming and other economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin. It will also facilitate the return of IDPs to their communities.

    “Operation Last Hold is conceptualised to involve the conduct of population influence activities targeted to improve civil-military relations in the Northeast.

  • A boost for fishermen in Lokoja

    Fishing, the occupation of most Lokoja, Kogi State people, has received a boost with the donation of a fish market complex and two cold rooms to fishermen and traders by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Buba Jibril.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the facilities in Lokoja, Jibril (Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency – APC), said he decided on the modern market to boost fish trade and encourage the local fishermen to remain in the trade.

    Inaugurating the project, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr James Faleke praised Jibril for his efforts at developing the economy of his constituency.

    The market complex comprises 55 stalls, two cold rooms and three gas and coal-powered fish-smoking rooms. A borehole and 250KVA power generating set were also provided to ease preservation of large quantities of fish.

    The two cold rooms have a combined capacity of 3,000 tons of fish at a time.

    According to the lawmaker, the gesture will help curb wastes associated with local fishing and trading and also lead to an increase in the incomes of both fishermen and traders.

    He explained that the construction of the complex followed the training he recently facilitated for 150 people in the areas of fish farming and preservation through the Small and Medium Scale

    Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).

    Represented at the event by a Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kassim Mabo, he handed over the complex to the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Mohammed Maikarfi.

    The monarch commended Jibril for not forgetting his roots, saying that fishing and fish business remains the major occupation of the people of Lokoja.

    He said that the gesture will not only preserve the much treasured fishing tradition of the people, but will also boost their income and elevate the status of fishing and fish trade.

    Maigari who was represented by the Waziri of Lokoja, Alhaji Abdurahman Idris, said that the allocating of the stalls to fish traders will be on the basis of fairness and equity, just as he admonished prospective stall owners to ensure good maintenance of the facilities.

    He urged other politicians to emulate Jibril by impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary people.

     

  • Fishing cage: Bello to kick off pilot scheme

    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has expressed determination to ensure the success of the Federal Government initiative on the development of fishing cage aqua culture in the Territory.

    The Minister gave this assurance when the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Economic Management Team, Mr. Dolapo Bright paid him a visit in his office.

    Bello expressed joy that the FCT is one of the five states chosen by the Federal Government for the development of the fishing cage culture project, adding that the programme is in tandem with the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy and create more jobs.

    According to him, “FCT will be interested in the three levels of the project which include locating some of the fish cage aqua culture projects in accessible bodies of water for the purpose of serving astourist attractions; establishing some as economic empowerment projects for rural residents and developing others as entrepreneurship ventures for the youths of the Territory.

    “We are happy that the FCT has been selected to be among the states that would develop the pilot scheme of this project which we consider to be a very important focal point for job creation.”

    The Minister, who lamented the uncontrolled fishing activities going on at Jabi Lake, directed the Department of Fisheries to ensure proper monitoring and regulation of the net size used for fishing, in order not depopulate the water bodies.

    Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Dolapo Bright, stated that the fishing cage aqua culture project was part of the social investment programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He said the project which would be financed by the World Bank is designed as part of the efforts at the diversification of the economy, job creation and producing fish for protein.

    He however decried the situation where the nation is spending over $1

    Billion dollars annually in the importation of fish when it has all it takes to be self-sufficient in the area.

  • Students go fishing as flood overruns school

    Students go fishing as flood overruns school

    The premises of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Warri, literally became a fish pond, following an early morning downpour that flooded the school. Students plunged into the pool on walkways to catch fish brought by the flood. UGOCHUKWU SOSTHENES (Petroleum Engineering and Geo-science) reports.

    Students of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Warri, Delta State, woke up last Tuesday in a pool. The campus was flooded, following hours of an early morning downpour, which did not stop the ongoing second semester examination. Students were seen wading through the water-logged pathways to their examination halls.

    The heavy rain started at 4am and lasted two hours. Many students were trapped in classrooms where they went to study at night ahead of Mathematics examination to be written the following morning. The two-hour downpour unfortunately resulted in the flooding of their classrooms.

    The school library, which has a well-constructed drainage, was equally flooded. The flood carried  in its rage, a heap of debris to the school gate messing up the entire area. Some areas on the campus could not be accessed owing to the flood.

    The flood, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, might have been caused by the nearby Effurun River, which overflowed its bank. Different live fish were seen swimming in the flood on the campus. The roads leading to the campus stadium and the main Laboratory Complex were unpassable as many feared dangerous reptiles might be in the flood.

    To the students, the fish were manna from heaven. Some, who were not writing examinations that day, waded through the flood to catch fish. None of the students who went “fishing” returned empty handed; they all went back to their hostels with their catch.

    Describing the flooding as unprecedented, a lecturer, who did not want his name in print, said: “Ever since I started teaching in this school, I have not witnessed this magnitude of flood on the campus.”

    Sunday Egon, an ND 1 Science Laboratory Technology student, who went for night reading before the rain, said: “When water started flowing into the classrooms, everybody started packing their books. Then, it became unbearably cold. We were all trapped and could not return to hostels, because the flood covered every pathway. It was difficult to distinguish the drainage from the pathway. We ended up going late for our papers,” he said.

    It took more than 12 hours before the flood receded. A management source blamed the flooding on poor drainage in the town. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that drains in Effurun had been blocked for years, because of poor construction and blockage by waste materials. The source said PTI may continue to experience flooding until a cleanup exercise is carried out to through the drains and canals in the town.

  • Illegal fishing: ‘West Africa loses $10billion $23.5b yearly’

    Between $10billion and $23.5 billion are yearly lost globally as a result of Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

    This figure, according to the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), represent 37 per cent of the West African region’s catch.

    A Deputy Director of FDF, Babatunde Popoola quoted these figures at a seminar organised by the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) on the arrest and prosecution of maritime crimes yesterday in Lagos.

    Lamenting that the menace of IUU was a global challenge, Popoola stated that regional and international cooperation was needed to enhance information sharing.

    He also called for the review of extant provisions of fishing in the country to provide sanctions that are commensurate to the crime.

    Popoola said there was need to curb illegal exploitation of marine fisheries resource especially by foreign vessels, adding that the lack of fisheries protection patrol vessel was a hindrance.

    Listing the various fisheries provisions that warrant arrest, Popoola urged the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police to apprehend any fishing boat not duly licenced, or whose licence has expired.

    He said that the use of wrong category of fishing licence was also an offence, adding that boats fishing with poisonous substances dynamite or gamalin 20 should be arrested.

    According to him, no vessel should fish in restricted areas, which are five nautical miles non-trawling zone and breeding ground for juvenile fish.

    The seminar which was organised to chart a new course in the arrest and prosecution of maritime criminals was attended by the Commissioner of Police (CP) incharge of Ports, Besan Gwana;  Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship  (NNS) QUORRA, Commodore Francis Isaac and Commodore Omatseye Nasiama, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding  (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, among others.

    Earlier, Gwana, who represented the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Maritime said that there was decrease in maritime crimes in the last three years.

    Giving a four-year breakdown, Gwana noted that 389 cases were reported in 2011; 420 in 2012, 315 in 2013, 308 in 2014 and 171 last year.

    Noting that most of the cases were still under investigation, he said the command recorded convictions on a handful, some were acquitted and others awaiting trial.

    According to him, the police have put mechanisms such as surveillance, robust information gathering and awareness creation, as well as constant patrols in place as preventive mechanism against maritime crimes.

    In her presentation, the legal officer, NAVTRAC, Lieutenant Commander P.U. Anyanwu canvassed the need for the creation of special courts to strictly handle maritime cases, adding that there should be synergy between maritime stakeholders.

  • Pandemonium as armed youths sack fishing communities in Rivers

    • Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom fishermen vacate camps

    Armed youths have attacked fishing camps situated at the boundaries of Bonny and Andoni, local government areas in Rivers State.

    The hoodlums were said to have burnt houses and other properties belonging to the fishermen and their families.

    The youths who were armed with guns and cudgels, reportedly shot sporadically and injured the fleeing inhabitants of the camp.

    Over 10 of the thugs who were identified as Andoni youths were said to have stormed the area on two speedboats setting the camps on fire as they patrolled the waterways.

    The youths who were said to have operated for many hours, later departed and came back reinforced with more angry youths.

    It was learnt that the fishing camps were occupied by people from Okirika, Ogoni in Rivers State; Ifoko, Epelematubu, Ebeintubu, Forupaka, aka Ago Eri and Mumakiri, aka Ajengule.

    Others were Brass Nembe and Southern Ijaw from Bayelsa State; Ilaje from Ondo State and some tribes from Delta State.

    A fisherman from Bayelsa who sent a distress call to our correspondent in Yenagoa, said the camps had been sacked adding that the fresh attack occurred on Thursday.

    The source who spoke in hush tone from his hideout said there was commotion as fishermen and their families were running into the mangrove forest for safety.

    The fisherman, who spoke in confidence, urged our correspondent to save them by contacting security agencies.

    He said: “The armed youths arrived at exactly 2:48pm beating up every young man on sight and threatening to burn down the entire communities along the coast. Nobody can pinpoint the cause of their provocation. The government should do something fast to save lives.

    “These Andoni youths have been attacking and harassing us. We are not operating from their side. We are doing our business from the Bonny side of the boundary. The entire place is now empty because people are running away from their camps”, he said.

    In a statement via a text message, the Federated Non-indigenous Fishermen, Farmers and Traders in Bonny Coast called on the governments of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Ondo states to come to their aide.

    The statement also sent a save-our-soul message to the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide.

    The statement said: “We have lived peacefully in Bonny lands and territories for more than 30 years doing legitimate business without any form of molestation from Bonny youths even in the heat of militancy in the Niger Delta region.

    “We have done no harm nor violated the robust business and neighborly relationship we have cordially maintained with the Andonis on the other side of the boundary.

    “Hence, we could not understand the reasons why the bands of armed Andoni youth should have the boldness to cross over to the Bonny to subject us to the most frustrating provocations.

    “In the last one month our young men have been under daily assault on return from the seas. They have been brutally forced to pay a daily fee of N1000 at gunpoint, immediately on return from the sea”.

    The statement was signed by the group’s President, Sola Aderibigbe; Vice-President, Mathew Kpabari; Secretary, Ingo Aye and Publicity Secretary, Opuala Oba.

    The statement added: “These criminals would further command elderly fathers to severe beatings and humiliation in the presence of their wives and children. We have taken enough of this brutality.

    “This is not the first time we have experienced these nasty treatments in the hands of miscreants from Andoni. As we speak the six communities have been evacuated of the aged women and children to avoid the daily trauma of being chased into the forest by these blood thirst miscreants from Andoni.”

    But the Naval Commanding Officer, Bonny, Capt. Semiu Adetegba, promised to send troops to the troubled area adding that the navy was doing something about it.

  • Nigeria tackles illegal fishing

    The Federal Government has taken steps to combat illegal fishing by implementing measures to ensure that only responsible fishing companies operate on the nation’s waters.

    Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is estimated to strip between $10 billion and $23 billion from the global economy, and their impact undermine the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

    The Director, Department of Fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Aderemi Abioye, who disclosed this in Lagos, said the government was making efforts in collaboration between fishing companies to strengthen inspections and control procedures on vessels.

    He said the government was ready to work with the industry to encourage responsible fishing and promote sustainable fisheries and food security, adding that every attempt is made towards developing the industry.

    Abioye said the government was encouraging stakeholders to focus on fishery products that must be the result of appropriate trawling equipment and methods that do not harm the environment, use legal labour, and attain the required food safety standards.

    Globally, he said United States and the European Union (EU) represent the largest market for Nigerian shrimp exports and that the government ensures shrimp and fish exporters comply with  international regulations on country of origin to help US and EU consumers know where the shrimp and the fish they purchase was produced.

    Under international Country of Origin Labeling Law, labels on fresh seafood are required to tell consumers where the fish was farmed or wild-caught.

    He said the nation was making sure there were efficiencies at every stage of shrimp and fish export process to enable Nigeria enjoy a reputation of being highly efficient, reliable and standing by their commitments.

    Last year, a regional workshop on shrimp fisheries management plans for Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria was held in Lagos to empower local companies, following foreign buyers demand that imported shrimps meet ecological and fair trade certification.

    The programme was intended to educate farmers on best practices as the government had taken the problem seriously. The shrimp industry, according to experts, is worth over $18 billion yearly.

    To be eligible for export, shipments must have certificates of origin, such as the name of the fishing vessel and the area. Under the regulations companies are required to put the samples of any export shrimp in testing for pathogen, antibiotics and other additives. The container will be held in quarantine cold storage until government representatives have come and got samples, then taken them to a lab for testing.

  • Fishing out your dream job: Techniques and strategies

    Fishing out your dream job: Techniques and strategies

    We are presenting the series designed to provide job seekers the road map to the nitty-gritty of the tough aspects of tackling the job market and making it available for you, no matter where it is.

    Job fairs

    Job fairs are being utilised by an increasing number of recruiters. They offer a cost-effective and convenient way to contact a large number of candidates in a relatively short them. Job fairs also offer similar benefits to candidates — as long as you know how to work them.

    Plan in advance and your job fair visit will be very worthwhile. Be sure to investigate all participating companies in advance. When possible, obtain a list of these companies from fair organisers, and begin to research about six to 10 companies that may be of particular interest to you. In making your decision, consider the type of candidates sought, company location, company reputation, etc.

    Once you’ve drawn up your list, do some research on these companies at your local library, on the worldwide web, or through directly contacting the company. Be sure to uncover basic information such as company product and services, size, etc.

    You may even want to explore what the company’s philosophy or approach is. In particular, what they emphasise in their literature. Write this information obtained on index cards, a notebook or in a PC file.

    Your next step is to check out your own communication tool for the fair, your resume. Be sure to give it a make-over to make sure it highlights and showcases your skills in a professional and concise way for the job you are seeking. If it doesn’t, revise it in advance of your visit to the job fair.

    Now it’s time to put both items together. For each company that you have researched information on, write down the basic details obtained. Next to this information, list some skills, qualifications, achievements, or specialised training from your resume that would match the company’s “ideal” candidate. A typical entry in your notebook may look like this:

     

    XXYYZZ Nigeria Plc

    • Manufacture and sell office products and equipment.

    • Lagos-based

    • 550 employees.

    • Family owned and operated with strong commitment to customer service.

    • Looking for sales professionals.

    • Five year outside sales experience and an associate’s degree in marketing.

    • Worked in retail during school, completed an internship, have strong letters of recommendation for friendliness and courtesy to customers.

    As the date for the job fair approaches, check out your logistics. Make sure that you know where the event is being held, where to park, job fair hours, etc.

    Depending on the number of companies scheduled to attend, it’s a good idea to allow yourself at least one and a half hours to talk with prospective employers.

    Be sure to dress appropriately for the fair, and bring along 10 to 12 copies of your resume.

     

    Plan on arriving about 45 minutes to one hour after the official start time

    Look for your targeted companies, did they all show up? How busy are they at the moment? If a recruiter is busy talking to other candidates, look for another targeted company whose table is free.

    The trick is to minimise waiting in line, and maximise talking with prospective employers. Be sure to shake hands with the recruiter and introduce yourself Provide them with a copy of your resume to look over, along with your references, or any letters of recommendation you may have.

    As they review your resume, describe your background and qualifications. Make this a brief, to the point presentation recapping your skills and abilities.

    At this point, the recruiter may have some additional questions about your qualifications and also provide you with information about current job vacancies. Keep your talk concise — your total time spent with a recruiter should not be more than eight to 10 minutes.

    To wrap up, thank the recruiter for their time, express an interest in a more formal interview in the future, and ask for a business card in order to send a follow-up thank-you letter.

    After you’ve talked with the recruiters of your “targeted” companies, talk with other employer representatives if time allows. By doing so, you can often uncover information about certain companies and jobs that you were unaware of prior to the job fair.

    Finally, make one last tour of the area before you leave, and stop by the tables of any recruiters who had been helpful or interested in your background.

    Reintroduce yourself remind them of your earlier meeting, and reiterate your interest in scheduling to meet with them at a later date.

    Visit a local job fair and interview with at least five companies and collect at least 10 business cards.

    However, I will say that you do not put too much stock into this strategy.

    We have discussed the main strategies for job hunting. A major issue for job seekers but the least discussed is the issue of fear. But anybody who has had to look for a job will agree it is a regular company at various points in the job hunting stages.

    We will bring the matter to the fore by considering how to manage fear.

    You’ve heard of fire-fighting, let’s talk about fear fighting. You may have heard the old saying “Fire and fear – good servants, poor masters”.

    Whenever I hear that quote, I am always struck by how much fire and fear have in common.

    • It’s easy for both to get out of control and maim or damage.

    We have a fear of both. (Nothing to fear, but fear itself).

    • Both can be hard to capture or contain, much less extinguish.

    • Both can be controlled and made to serve us, if created respectfully and knowledgeably.

    We are in a business climate where fear is an everyday companion for most of us. Our friends, business associates and clients can seem to take an almost ghoulish delight in sharing the latest business horror story.

    Even the strongest of us can find ourselves bitten by the fear bug, and from there, the fear can start to grow like a dreaded disease. It starts to permeate every task, every phone call, every prospect interaction.

    How do we inoculate ourselves from the fear virus? How do we keep it from destroying our peace, sapping our energy and stealing our motivation?

    You may have heard what we resist, persists” This is definitely true for fear. We can fear number of things in these challenging times, many of which are beyond our control. The pivot-point questions are: What can I affect? (What is within my ability to change, control, or manipulate, even minutely?). Am I willing to take the effort to do so? Consider these in managing fear:

    • Honour the fear: Acknowledge it. Thank it for showing up. Do not deny it, or stuff it away, or anesthetise it with food, alcohol or drugs.

    • Be aware that there is no shame in being afraid. Fear is a natural response. It means our body, mind, spirit and emotions are working the way they are supposed to.

    • Ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen? Have I been through something like that before? Am I willing to deal with the situation? If not, what am I prepared to do? What am I prepared to change?”

    • Understand that fear is not a signal to stop, not a red light. Fear is a yellow light, telling us to proceed with caution and awareness.

    • Give yourself permission to move forward cautiously, with the fear. Consider fear an informative travelling companion, not on adversary during these challenging times. And certainly, not the thief of our peace of mind and our future security.

    • Ask yourself “what will I do if am not afraid?” Then, just do what you would have done if you are not afraid.