From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Emir of Yauri Emirate, Dr. Muhammad Zayyanu, has sought the intervention of the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to end the killings of fingerlings, a breed of small fish, found in rivers in the area.
Muhammad stated this in his palace in Yauri town when he hosted the Managing Director of the Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa and Chairman of the Supervision Committee of the agency, Prof. Sale Kalau and their team.
The monarch commended the commission on various projects and rehabilitation of water works in his domain.
On the indiscriminating killing of fingerlings, Emir Yauri said: “As you all known, one of the main job of our people is fishing apart from farming. Some fishermen are using cruel equipment in catching these small fish; fingerlings. The law prohibiting illegal fishing is not strong enough, it only stipulates a fine of N20,000. But if you caught one big fish, it could cost N150,000. So, we need stringent law. I don’t know how HYPPADEC is going to help us on this.”
Sadiq-Yelwa said the commission would release tenders for contractors to bid for the 20-year old Yauri water works which would cost about N1.9 billion.
He urged people of the area to make sure they protect the project properly from being damaged. He said consumers would pay a small amounts as tariff for the usage of water from the project to enable it generate revenue for its maintenance when completed.