ARDS clamps down on fish markets in Abuja
—Destroys fish worth millions of naira
—Restocks Jabi Lake with 2000 fingerlings
By Wisdom Acka
To ensure consumption of healthy aquatic food by residents, the Federal Capital Territory Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (FCT-ARDS) has intensified raids on unwholesome fish markets in the nation’s capital, confiscating and destroying products.
ARDS Secretary, Stanley Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe who made this disclosure during a recent end of year press briefing explained that the move was to ensure that fake or unhealthy fish merchants did not take undue advantage of unsuspecting residents by flooding the markets with unwholesome stocks.
The measure, he added, was also intended to sanitize the markets and prevent sales of unhealthy aquatic products Nzekwe noted that confiscated stocks of fish amounting to several millions of naira were destroyed, and the culprits handed over to security agencies for prosecution.
The Secretary further explained that in an effort to boost aquaculture and fish production in the FCT, the FCT Administration was determined to improve the supply of wholesome fish for consumption by residents,
The ARDS boss also revealed that the Secretariat had restocked the Jabi Lake with over 2,000 assorted fingerlings, while the Children’s Park reservoir received 1000 fingerlings.
He said: “The Secretariat has raided several markets in the Territory to confiscate and destroy unwholesome fish, the enforcement Department has also effected several arrests and the raids will continue.
“Those we arrested have always been handed over to security agencies for prosecution. Our wholesome fish and meat consumption in FCT has improved, as the constant raiding has reduced sales of unwholesome fish by 80 percent. The aquaculture industry is thriving in the FCT and in order to boost fish production, the Secretariat restocked the Jabi Lake with over 2,000 assorted fingerlings.
“Further to this, the Secretariat just recently restocked the Children’s Park Reservoir with over 1000 fingerlings.” Nzekwe stressed.
Nzekwe also revealed that Agric Secretariat also did several input support programmes, promoted harmony between farmers and pastoralists and repositioned activities of cooperative societies across the FCT.
