Lagos artisanal fishermen complain of illicit fishing, dredging on waterways;Despite being among the world’s top producers in fisheries and aquaculture production, Nigeria loses $10 billion annually to illegal fishing according to the transport minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi;Prof. Shehu Latunji Akintola, Department of Fisheries at the Lagos State University (LASU), says Nigeria’s anti-piracy law could help solve illegal fishing.
Johnbull Mohammed was in a torpid state as she walked along the shoreline, caught between mounting pressures from her creditors – a microfinance bank – and the desperation to feed and school her children.
She depends on the sea for livelihood but now threatened with an increasingly rising spate of unauthorised fishing, even by foreigners, and industrial activities.
“We need help,” she said soliloquising. “No one is listening to our plights. No one cares; the government is deaf. Cotonou people (citizens of Benin Republic) are after us on the seaways, only you come and help us,” she added, referring to the Olokun, the goddess of the sea.
Mrs Mohammed is one of the local crayfish and fish sellers in Akodo, Lekki, a fishing community in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre. Akodo-waya is a large fishing village, located close to Lekki, an enclave of the rich, and 60 km east of Lagos harbour.
She said the community faced many problems such as the laying of pipelines by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Company and the rising case of foreigners on the sea for illegal fishing and attacks on fishers; carting away fishing cast nets and motorised canoes. Mr Aliko Dangote is presently building a petroleum refinery in Lekki, and the artisanal fisher alleged that the company’s industrial activities on the sea are affecting the fishing.
It was a Friday morning in early December as the family looks ahead to good tidings as the festive season and new year beckons.
“Women are at the receiving end; we are suffering, no buyers and our husband cannot go out fishing. Most times, we turned to menial jobs assisting in site engineers in decking construction on houses.
“This is because some parts of the sea are not reachable due to dredging and laying pipes by the Dangote refinery. The other part is full of shady fishers, and the lives of fishermen are not secured.
“The Nigerian Navy that is supposed to be securing lives and property are only after Dangote’s pipes and irons inside the water,” she said.
Mrs Mohammed explained further that despite her political participation at the ward level, she has nothing to show for belonging to a ruling political party.
“Look at me, I am a women leader in my unit, yet there’s nothing to show for my political involvement. My children were sent back home to pay ₦1,000 for exercise books the government gave themTheseese books are free at times, but teachers and principals collect money before releasing them for our children. I managed to come to the Ebute (shore) to see if I will get something to sell.
“But as usual, the maritime security have seized my husband’s cast net and canoe on the sea. Who did we offend? How can the government be satisfying one man and his family, securing his properties at the expense of a larger fishing community?
“Look at our motorised canoes, fishing nets all destroyed and we have a debt to repay. They have nothing to do for us other than to destroy our boats and cast nets. How do we eat? Mrs Mohammed said while pointing to some of the damaged vessels.
Nigeria among top countries with illicit fishing
Despite being among the world’s top producers in fisheries and aquaculture production, illegal fishing continues to undermine Nigeria’s economic growth and livelihood of women and the fishing communities.
According to the FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020, Uganda and Nigeria are Africa’s most prominent water capture producers, contributing a combined 7% to global aquaculture production as of 2018.
Yearly, the fisheries sub-sector contributes on average 3-4 percent to the country’s annual GDP. Specifically, under the agricultural sector, fishing grew by 5.68% in Q2 2020 from 1.49 percent in Q1 2020 and 1.09 cent in Q2 2019. Most of these productions were generated by artisanal fishers from Lagos coastal line and other states.
Inland Waters Capture production – Top 10 countries
Despite this, the country’s marine resources faced poaching or illegal fishing by foreigners, causing immense havoc to angler’s lives and livelihood. It also causes indirect economic loss because of the fear and uncertainty of when to go fishing.
The 2019 IUU Fishing Index ranked Nigeria among the top 10 countries with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The country scored high on Vulnerability and Prevalence of unlawful and unreported fishing. According to FAO, IUU has adverse socioeconomic effects on communities, fishery workers and consumers.
Findings also revealed that it posed a threat to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, Goal 14.6.1 ‘Life Below Water’ of the SDG as nations cannot meet the target of eliminating illegal fishing by 2020.
Foreigners profit from Nigeria’s marine resources illicitly
Confirming the report, Mr Ajayi Nasiru, a local fisherman and president of the fishermen association in Akodo, Lagos, told Dataphyte that Togolese and Ghanaians now engage in the booming illicit business of fisheries on Nigeria’s water territory.
Mr Nasiru said the foreigners come as far as Ghana, Togo, and the Benin Republic. And most of them settled along coastlines in Lagos to sell those fishes to Nigerian citizens.
“We have Togolese, Beninese, and Ghanaian people on Lagos marine, fishing, and trading. At Lekki, they come from Takwa Bay to fish in Lekki for two to four days per week.
“At times, they threaten us with guns, steal our fuel, engine, and leave fishermen to their fate in the middle of the sea.”
An earlier study report by International Police (Interpol) corroborated Lagos fish farmers’ claims on illegal fishing on Lagos waterways. The report cited reports on tuna vessels’ sightings in Nigerian waters (purse seiners, longliners, and pole-liners). It also stated that a lack of surveillance resources enables illegal fishing in Nigeria.
In Badagry, illegal fishing booms as women suffer
Throughout the fish value chain, women play a crucial role, providing labour in commercial and artisanal fisheries and acting as small-scale entrepreneurs. They are the first victim of illegal fishing.
Like Mrs Mohammed In Akodo, Lekki local government, a fish monger and one of the market leaders in Badagry, Odu Elizabeth, expressed worries over the invasion of foreigners on the sea. Mr Elizabeth said the foreigners are protected and even established a co-operative in Badagry local government doing the fishing businesses.
“In Badagry, our children are neglecting fishing because of lack of resources and assistance from the government. This has given room for the Benin people to storm our waterways for fishing. They are the major fishers now.”
Mrs Elizabeth alleged that foreign fishers have co-operative and run a standard fishing business in Badagry.
“It is very hard for you to see any youth from Badagry doing fishing, they now engage in rice business and other importation where they get quick cash.“
Same complain in Iworo, Olorunda LCDA
A 72-year-old local fisherman in Iworo Olorunda, Pa Stephen Ayo Dada, expressed anger over the increasing number of foreigners doing illegal fishing on Nigeria’s marine resources in Badagry, Epe, and Lekki. Pa Dada alleged that government officials aided their operation on Nigeria’s shorelines because they use them for electioneering purposes.
“Things were not like this before. They (foreigners) are increasing on the sea every day; they fish and sell to our people and go back to their countries when the sea becomes unsettled for fishing.
“Most of them are local people from the Benin Republic. They have co-operative people in Badagry. They are one of those disturbing our trade. If you visit the sea in the morning, afternoon, and midnight, you will see them engaging in fishing.
“They are many, and they accommodate them so they can use them for election purposes. Nigerian Government should send them back to their countries. What they are doing on our sea, we cannot do in their countries.
“They now occupy every shoreline in Lagos state,” the 1965 trained fisherman said.
He said fishermen in Olorunda need the state government’s attention as dredgers and unauthorised fishers from neighbouring countries have impacted fishing.
Miss Bukola Akindele, the daughter of deputy head, fish sellers association in Iworo Olorunda LCDA, also confirmed the presence of foreigners on the sea.
“I don’t know if they have the right to fish on our sea, but we don’t discriminate against anyone. They came as fishermen from Cotonou and Benin and they have groups. During the off-fishing season, they return to their country to do another job.
“Our own is to buy the fishes, roast them, and sell it out.”
In Epe, the threat to life scares fishers
Ibrahim Akere, a local fisherman in Malame, Epe axis, said his colleagues and him go fishing mostly during the day and in groups because of poachers.
“We are always scared to go alone these days.
“Despite the presence of Dangote refinery and Navy, the waterway is not safe. We are always scared of going to fish at night.
“Most times, during the day, we don’t go beyond a certain stage because of the invaders.”
Akere said they usually hijack their motorised boats, cart away fuel and something injures fishers on the sea.
“We don’t know them, and they don’t look like our people. Most times, they speak in their local languages, and they don’t understand pidgin English when we approach them to engage or beg them.”
Buttressing Akere’s points, Adejumo Balogun, OPC leader, and the local fisherman said the Dangote Group’s navy also contributed to the damage.
“Dangote is doing a terrible job in our communities. They have blocked our ways to catch fish. “When we go to get what to eat, they beat us on the sea, use anchors to clear off our fishnets, and destroy our boats.
“Look at our boats lying fallow in a season where we should be fishing day and night. But we cannot do that because they have shattered the waterways.
“Before he (Dangote) came, we used to have over 200-motorised boats for fishing here in Epe. But now we have less than ten boats and canoes. They have destroyed it all with anchors “Balogun said.
He added that some people had left Epe, Lekki fishing communities in Lagos for Ondo state. But still are not allowed to continue fishing.
Obsolete fishing regulation in Nigeria aid illicit fishing activities
In Nigeria, the bulk of fishing is done by artisanal fishers on the coastal waters, yet small-scale fisheries are not defined in the country’s constitution. The Inland Fisheries Act of 1992, which captures small-scale fishing management, cannot cover fishermen’s interests and the fisheries it meant to protect. Section 1 (1) of the Act provides for the licensing of fishing craft and the regulation of fishing on Nigeria’s inland waters. It provides a fine of N500 or six months imprisonment for anyone operating a fishing craft with approval.
The Act failed to provide appropriate measures against poachers or illegal fishers in Nigeria. A report by Fisheries management in Nigeria described the obsolete policy as the reason why fisheries exploitation is showing clear signs of severe overexploitation.
A maritime consultant, Mr Jude Okenwa, had urged NIMASA to engage the National Assembly to review maritime laws to stop foreign trawlers and poachers on Nigerian waters.
Nigerian government seeks protection for its sea economy
In September 2020, Nigeria’s minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said the country loses $10 billion annually to illegal fishing. Speaking at the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES26), the minister, represented at the event, said the ministry would liaise with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to protect and grow the sea economy.
Mr Amaechi’s statement came three months after NIMASA placed a ₦3 million fine on Chinese fishing vessel ‘Hailufeng 11’ for illegally fishing on Nigeria’s waterways.
The spokesperson of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Philip Kyanet, promised to get a response from the appropriate department and reply. As of the time of filing this report, he is yet to get back.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Lagos State, Ms Abisola Olusanya, did not reply to text messages sent to her phone seeking comment. On three different times, she did not pick her calls and did not return calls.
Nigeria’s anti-piracy law could solve illicit fishing – Expert.
Prof. Shehu Latunji Akintola, Department of Fisheries at the Lagos State University (LASU), confirmed poaching on Lagos waterways. The professor said the illegal trade caused huge havoc on economic and human losses in the country.
“Poaching or IUU causes immense havoc to fishermen in terms of attack of their vessels or fishing craft, injury, and death to the fishing crew. So, it causes vast material and human losses to the fishers. It also causes indirect economic loss which is yet to be quantified relative to the fishing days lost because of the fear and uncertainty of when to go fishing.”
Prof Akintola said the estimated value of catches exploited by IUU fishing is enormous, up to 30 million dollars per annum.
“Although armed robbery on land is giving much coverage by the press, the one being carried out on the water is more sinister. More so that the anglers are not protected and Nigeria Navy who are fingered to aid and in their ways this crime by paying no attention to this crime except the occasion bursting of water crime.”
The Professor of Fisheries Management hailed President Buhari for signing Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019
“I must salute the effort of the present government of President Buhari, who signed to law Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019. Now, Nigeria’s challenge is not the absence of the enabling statute, but an unwillingness to walk the talk. This may be due to a lack of capacity regarding having the sophistication required to give a semblance of protection. You must also note that waterways are much more complicated than land in terms of coverage to protect both the users and the resources from plundering. However, corruption by the Navy who are primarily the ones enabled by law to safeguard does no good to anyone involved in fishing and consequently, the country. There is a need for the coastal guide. But the sustainable and far-reaching solution will be the change in governance architecture of fisheries in Nigeria. Nigeria can take a cue from its neighbouring sister state, Ghana. For instance, Ghana has a ministry of fisheries along the side of a fisheries commission.”
He urged the Nigerian government to implement the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines. He also suggested the need to have at least a fisheries commission that serves as an ombudsman for management, conservation, protection, and utilisation of our waterways.
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The Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) provided support for this report and is made possible through funding support from Ford Foundation.