The Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), under Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday destroyed about 95.86 metric tonnes of unwholesome fish worth N37 million.
The destruction was carried out in the premises of two companies known as Premium Foods Limited and Bexolac Seafoods Limited in Lagos.
However, the breakdown shows that 3,135 cartons of rotten fish and about 62.9 tonnes worth N25.6 million contained Herring, Mackerel and Alaska Pollock were destroyed at Premium Foods Limited located at Iganmu while 1,648 cartons of rotten fish, about 32.96 metric tonnes worth N11.98 million Hake, Herring, Mackerel and Alaska Pollock were also destroyed, which made total of 4,4783 cartons were evacuated and destroyed from the two companies. The companies were said to be owned by an Indian businessman, as a follow up to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who sealed the cold rooms about three weeks ago.
While inspecting the fish, the Acting Director of FDF, Areola Foluko, said the reason the ministry decided to destroy the fish was because the they were unfit for human consumption. She added that the fish was totally bad and freezer burnt, dry and changed colour with bulging eyes, which are the signs of deterioration and unwholesomeness of the fish.
She lamented: “Because of the poor packaging of the fish, that is why we have the issue of freezer burn. Even the type of the nylon used for the packaging is not acceptable. And the time you see it in the market, people will think it’s of good quality and marketers will say their cold chain is the best in world.
“Though the products were bad and the packaging too was bad and there is no where in the world people will allow this type of packaging but some people believe that anything can be brought into this country. For instance, we have the case where somebody brought in fish on March 26 with the expiry date of April 1, and the man said they told him where he bought it that he should take it to Nigeria, in the next three months, they can still eat it in Nigeria but they are not eating it where they told him to bring it to Nigeria.”
Assistant Director, Head of Quality Control Division of FDF, Mrs. Adeniyi Adunni, said the new administration was working on the modalities whereby the FDF would be at the port to prevent unwholesome fish from entering into the market.
Said she: “The problem we have is that immediately the fish is released from the port, majority of them are sold out at the port. So the ones we see here at the cold rooms are little compared to what came into the country. Concerning the packaging material, we have written to all the companies in the world and we have given them standard.”
Meanwhile, Rasheed Olajide, the Administrative Manager of the Bexolac Seafoods Limited said the company was ready to corporate with FDF and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the regulatory aspect, saying that the company was still waiting for the new regulation that Bexolac Seafoods will take it up.
He added: “And internal investigation is going on and the handling at the port at times contribute to this problem. We are waiting for the regulation and we are ready to support the policy and the agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan towards fish production in the country.”
