The House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has summoned the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, to address the poor state of the Fish Farm Estate in Bwari, Abuja.
During a visit to the farm on Monday, Committee Chairman Fred Agbedi expressed concern that the state of the estate undermines President Bola Tinubu’s goal of achieving food security for Nigeria. Agbedi, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Bayelsa State, pledged that the committee would work to revive the farm.
Agbedi, disappointed by the state of neglect, described the farm as a promising project that has been abandoned. “Today, in continuing our oversight of the agriculture department, we visited this estate, and to our shock, it is clear that this valuable initiative has been neglected,” he said.
He highlighted that the estate lacks basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, drainage, and roads, rendering it unfit for use. “There’s no electricity, no water, no drainage system, and no access roads. There are also no drains to carry wastewater from the fish farms, and no staff to manage the place. Security is another challenge,” Agbedi added.
The committee chairman urged the Minister of State for the FCT to appear before the committee to address the issues and ensure the farm’s functionality. He expressed sympathy for the residents and investors who partnered with the government and were left disappointed.
“When citizens with expertise in fish farming partner with the government and invest their resources for the nation’s welfare, only to see the government fail to honor its side of the deal, it’s disheartening,” Agbedi said. “As a committee, we cannot sit idly by while the government fails to act and allow the fish farming sector to contribute to the economy and well-being of the nation.”
Agbedi reassured residents and stakeholders that the National Assembly would work to restore the farm. “On behalf of Mr. Speaker, who established this committee to oversee the sector, I assure you that we will do everything possible to bring this place back to life,” he said. He also promised to address any budgetary or administrative challenges by speaking with relevant authorities, including the President.
He called on the Nigerian Police to provide better security for the farm, urging the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police to take swift action. “This is a fish farm, and without proper security, people won’t be able to stay here and produce fish for the FCT residents,” Agbedi added.
Agbedi also emphasized the need for more staff to manage the estate, noting, “To hear that only one staff member and an NYSC Corps member are managing this estate is unacceptable. We want to ensure that these issues are addressed in your report to the committee so we can have further discussions with the Minister of State and other stakeholders.”
The committee may also invite estate residents for further discussions on their concerns. “If necessary, we will invite the residents, who are partners with the FCT Ministry of Agriculture, to gain a deeper understanding of their issues and collectively find solutions,” Agbedi said.
Dabit Jonas Agbo, Acting Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department under the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, shared that the idea for the farm arose from the 38th annual meeting of the Nigerian National Fisheries Development Committee, which identified the high cost of fish imports as a key concern.