Government orders navy to stop illegal foreign fishermen

The Federal Government has ordered the Nigerian Navy to stop foreign trawlers that fish in the nation’s territorial waters illegally.

Some communities in the coastal communities in Bayelsa State and neighbouring states recently send a save-our-soul to the state and the Federal Government to save them from foreign trawler owners who engage in indiscriminate fishing on Nigerian waters.

The message, sent to the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), lamented the activities of the foreigners, who are heavily armed and attacked Nigerian fishermen at will.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at an interactive session with stakeholders in Yenagoa, said Nigeria would not tolerate foreign fishermen without permission.

The minister disclosed that the Presidency had ordered the Chief of Naval Staff to stop the intruders with immediate effect.

‎Senator Lokpobiri advised people of the region to invest in farming, stating that the Bank of Industry and Agricultural Development Bank would provide loans for them.