FG asks stockfish importers to take documentation seriously

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has tasked stockfish and seafood importers on proper documentation in order to avoid illegal importation.

Mr James Umoru of FMARD’s Fisheries and Aquaculture department, made the call at a one-day interactive workshop organised by the Norwegian Seafood Council in Lagos.

Umoru urged the importers of stockfish to go through the proper documentation and avoid illegal importation.

He also encouraged the importers to register with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture for accurate data capturing of stockfish imports.

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“Anyone who wants to go into importation of stockfish must first be licensed by the Agric ministry via the fisheries department.

“We do not want anybody to import stockfish into this country illegally. We want to have full control over that case.

“We want to have a complete detail of what we bring into the country in terms of fish,” Umoru added.

On her part, Mrs Felicia Udeh, an assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, lauded the efforts of the Norwegian Seafood Council in the nation’s aquaculture sector.

Udeh said that the federal government would continue to support and promote the development of the non-oil sector.

“The Norwegian Seafood Council is doing so well. As a government representative, one of our major responsibility or mandate is to promote the non-oil sector of the economy.”

The Africa Director, Norwegian Seafood Council, Mr Trond Kostveit, called for a viable business collaboration between both countries.

“We encourage this continuous relationship with Nigeria as we continue to work together in meetings like this which creates an avenue where we can exchange our views.

“This is a possibility for the two countries to become even closer and strengthen their friendships even closer than what we have been doing.

“It is amazing to see how aborigine stockfish is popular in Nigeria and as our biggest importers, we want to foster the relationship,” Trond said. (NAN)