From KABIR Dankatsina
In an efforts to improve its revenue generation from zero profile to a higher level in the ministry of Animal, Health Husbandry and Fisheries , Kebbi State government has introduced charges on the state water bodies through registration of fishermen in all the twenty one local government areas of the state.
The registration will pave way in uplifting the ministry’s revenue generation from its zero profile to higher level amounting to one hundred million per annum .
While answering questions from our Reporter in his office Wednesday over the development, Acting Director Fisheries, Nafi’u Muhammed Gwade who spoke on behalf of Commissioner of the ministry, Kabiru Usman Alaramma Stated that the ministry was challenged by relevant authorities particularly, State assembly, Ministry of budget and economic planning and the board of internal revenue concerning the zero profile of the Ministry interms of revenue generation in Kebbi State.
” it was based on this challenges we embarked on sanitisezation campaign in Argungu, Bunza and Kalgo local government areas on the importance of registration of Fishermen and charges before fishing in order to generate revenue ” Gwade said .
Since several interventions were made by the state government and other donor agencies in fishing enterprinueship amounting to three hundred million per annum in which each enterprinuer is getting one hundred million, there reason for the state government through the ministry of Animal Health and Husbandry and Fisheries to place levy on the Kebbi water bodies in which Fishermen are the beneciaries. ” he added.
Gwade further highlighted that the officials of the Ministry led by Commissioner went round and intimated all the stakeholders including the Fishermen, traditional rulers and the Chairmen of the Local Government areas about the development and have welcomed the initiative which they described as a long over due
According to him, the ministry is targeting 200, 000 Fishermen in which each will pay N500 per fishing in state water -rivers and N1000 in Kainji Dam or lakes.
He noted that Kebbi State government will generate N100 million per annum from the targeted members of the Fishermen in all the twenty one local government areas of the state.
