Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has urged the relevant Federal Agencies in the Country to effectively monitor and ensure that harmful preservative chemicals are not allowed on Sea Food in the country.
Governor Wike stated this at a Two-Day Seminar organized by the Norwegian Sea Food Council in Lagos, on Wednesday, 24th February 2021.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike stressed that it was necessary for stakeholders to fashion- out workable policies that would guarantee healthy and safe protocols for all consumables imported into Nigeria.
Governor Wike who said Rivers State was strategic to seafood economic activities, noted that it was a coastal state with viable Seaports.
The State Chief Executive enjoined the Norwegian Authorities to take advantage of the most favourable business climate in the country, by investing in Rivers State, which according to him is “Nigeria’s Investment hub”.
The Governor who commended the initiative of the Norwegian Sea Food Council for organizing the Seminar said “There is a huge bilateral trade relationship between Nigeria and Norway in stockfish”.
Participants at the Seminar were drawn from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning as well as NAFDAC, CBN, Nigerian Custom, Association of Stock Fish Dealers, and the Lagos State Government.
Report says Nigeria provides the largest market for imported stockfish from Norway with a total of 8,900 tons of stockfish valued at over $38 million US Dollars as of the year, 2020.
