Date: 2016-11-25

Kwara State Government has explained reason for the planned relocation of catfish farmers from Yidi road, to Asa River bank in Ilorin, the state capital.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Goke Bamidele said the move became expedient for expansion of fish farming activities in the state.

Speaking to Pilot Business in his office on Wednesday, he stressed that the proposed new site for the fish farmers will give room for development of that sector of agriculture in the state.

"Asa River bank provides a conducive environment for fish farming to thrive," the commissioner added.

Also lending a voice to the development, the Director General Kwara state Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Ibrahim Salman stated that the presence of fish ponds has posed security threat to residents of Yidi road area.

"We received a report from the residents in Yidi road that hoodlums and burglars have been disturbing them and they would escape through the fish farm axis. "We have been thinking of how to secure the place and protect the residents without distracting the business of the fish farmers. The place was even flooded sometimes back. "Recently, we received an application from Tuyil Pharmaceutical industry with desire to expand its factory there. We saw the application as solution to the problem in the area .

"We now approached Ministry of Agriculture to guide us on possible alternative location for new fish farm and provision of infrastructure," he explained.

The DG noted that against the backdrop of speculation that Tuyil intended to relocate to a state where it has been offered free land, the state government deemed it necessary to provide the incentive.

According him, "We predicted the threat it will pose on Kwara economy considering the fact that Tuyil has more than 6,000 employees and has been paying tax regularly.

"We now recommended to the state governor for consideration and approval that the land should be concessioned to Tuyil to expand his factory and encourage him to remain in Kwara.

Salman however stressed that condition was given for a smooth relocation of the fish farmers to Asa River banks.

Meanwhile, a cross section of affected fish farmers who spoke to this medium on Tuesday, decried the development, saying it would adversely affect their businesses. Craving anonymity, they called on the state government to reconsider plans in the interest of fish farming development in the state.

The farmers urged the state government to create more natural fish ponds to encourage more people to embrace agriculture as a way of diversifying the state economy. This medium learnt that the fish farmers have been given till middle of next year to vacate the site.