November 20, 2014 – The Lagos State Government has said that the annual seafood festival has more than four times doubled the turn-over of fishes for farmers in Lagos State.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Prince Gbolahan Lawal who made the revelation in Lagos however failed to disclose total sales recorded in each of the two editions held so far in Lagos.
But he said that he knows that famers in the state are smiling as third edition of the festival draws near.
“We observed and we are told that the number of patronage the fisher folks get has doubled more than 4 times of what they used to get hence we decided to continue. I cannot say how much, but I thank God the fishermen are smiling because they know what the festival portends for them”, he said.
The commissioner noted that the Lagos State Government embarked on the festival annually because the fishermen produce fishes but lacked where to sell since the market is the commercial centre.
“So we are providing them opportunity to come; we also supply them vehicles that move their catches from wherever to the city”, he said.
Lawal said 110,000 metric tons of fish was hauled in the maiden edition and that the state is currently hitting 159,000.
The commissioner explained that the theme of the festival is “Celebrating the Fisheries and Aqua-cultural Heritage of Lagos State”, adding that the theme is more apt and relevant since Lagos is set to celebrate seafood and aqua-cultural products and services.
He said the festival would feature fresh fish from fresh water, brackish water as well as marine environment by those involved in the business, processed fish like shrimps and lobsters among others.
The commissioner said that established chefs will also be on hand to display pepper soup. He said there will also be a pepper soup eating championship and that the winner will go home with a star price. Last year the prize was N500,000.
He noted that the championship has been zoned to five centres as follows, Cyclic centre in Constain, Surulere, Aso Rock, Ijegun, Jelili Bar, Ikoyi, Ikorodu and Badagry and Marina waterfront while the grand finale will take place December 6, 2014.
