By Ibrahim Yakubu
Fishermen in Kaduna state are increasingly concerned about the rising costs of fishing equipment, which is limiting their ability to catch enough fish to meet national demand amid high prices for meat and other livestock.
Kaduna Kangimi Dam serves as a major fish market in Kaduna State, supplying fresh fish to the state and surrounding areas. Hundreds of local youths are involved in fishing for self-sufficiency, but this season, they face significant challenges due to high equipment costs and insufficient support from the state government and other stakeholders.
During a recent visit by our reporter to Kangimi Dam where he engaged Ali Garba, a leader among the fishermen who has been in the industry for many years, he lamented that the rising costs of materials for fishing like nets and others are impacting fish supply in the state while calling for intervention by government and other stakeholders to mitigate the crisis.
Garba emphasized that many fishermen struggle with inadequate funding and resources, which hamper their ability to provide fresh fish, while calling for government assistance to enhance fish supply, especially in the face of farmers/herders crisis that has affected the supply of meat in the country.
According to him, the prices of fishing equipment have tripled this year due to a combination of the removal of subsidy on petrol and the depreciation of the Naira.
“The costs of Nets, hooks, boats, and other equipment have skyrocketed, making it difficult to catch larger fish, unlike in developed countries. We need modern fishing equipment and boats to help us catch larger fish and supply them to the market, reducing reliance on meat and livestock in the state,” he added.
Garba noted that more people from local communities are visiting the riverbanks to purchase fish at affordable prices, especially as meat prices rise, adding that many marketers from across the state come to the riverbank to buy fish for distribution to various markets.
Mallam Muhammed Sani, a leader of the local fishermen’s association (Dabar-Dadda’u Mai-kifi Kaduna), also lamented the lack of funding for business expansion. He stated, “The absence of capital is a serious issue for us, and we urge all relevant stakeholders to support our efforts.”
He underscored the need for the state government to recognise the vital role fishermen play in providing fish and other food items.
“We supply fish to the entire state, and I can assure you that all our fish come from this area. Many buyers come here to purchase fish for resale” he said.
Another local fisherman, Mallam Isah Mohammed, who has been in the business for over 50 years, shared that many local fishermen continue to use traditional boats. He mentioned that while this year’s floods damaged crops, they also brought an influx of fish to the river.
“We need modern fishing equipment to expand our operations and increase our fish supply, which would help reduce dependence on meat and livestock,” he said.
The fishermen are calling on the state government to assist them in acquiring the latest fishing gear so they can provide more fish and food items to local communities.
The Kangimi Dam Fishermen Association (Dabar-Dadda’u Mai-kifi) has been active for over 45 years, with many youths and elders involved in the fishing industry.
