Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commissioned and distributed 50 fishing boats equipped with 15HP Yamaha outboard engines and fishing nets to fishermen across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas of the state.
The intervention, which is part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen livelihoods in riverine communities, was commissioned on Monday at Koko in Warri North Local Government Area.
The Governor was represented at the event by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the initiative was designed to provide fishermen with modern equipment to improve their productivity, increase their income and create better economic opportunities for their families.
“For generations, fishing has been an important part of the life and economy of our riverine communities. It is more than a means of livelihood; it is a tradition that has been passed from one generation to another,” the Governor said.
Oborevwori acknowledged the difficult conditions under which many fishermen operate, including inadequate equipment and rising operational costs, saying the intervention was intended to ease some of those challenges.
“This intervention is therefore about giving you the tools you need to fish more efficiently, increase your income and provide better opportunities for your families,” he added.
The Governor described the programme as a practical demonstration of his administration’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, particularly its commitment to creating opportunities for residents and ensuring that no part of the state is left behind.
He disclosed that the distribution represented the first phase of the programme and directed the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure Development to extend the intervention to other riverine local government areas across Delta State.
Oborevwori urged the beneficiaries to use the boats, engines and fishing nets responsibly and ensure their proper maintenance to guarantee their long-term value.
He also assured riverine communities that his administration would continue to invest in supporting infrastructure, including access roads, landing jetties and other facilities aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and facilitating the transportation of fish to markets.
“We recognise the important role our fishing communities play in our economy and food security, and we will continue to support them,” the Governor said.
‘Tools of livelihood, engines of economic growth’
Earlier, the Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure Development, Chief Ebikeme Clark, said the initiative was part of the fulfilment of the M.O.R.E. Agenda commitment of the Oborevwori administration to the riverine population.
Clark explained that the boats were specially constructed to withstand tidal waves and serve both fishing operations and the transportation of agricultural and fish produce from riverine communities.
“Today, we are not just handing over fishing boats; we are handing over tools of livelihood, instruments of peace, and engines of economic growth to the very people of the riverine communities of Warri Federal Constituency whose major means of livelihood is fishing,” the Commissioner said.
According to him, the new boats and nets would enable fishermen to travel farther, spend more time fishing and potentially increase their catches, while also allowing them to transport their produce to markets more quickly, thereby reducing spoilage and improving profitability.
Clark stressed that the Koko commissioning marked only the first batch of the intervention, assuring that other riverine local government areas would benefit from the programme in due course.
He commended Governor Oborevwori for what he described as his visionary leadership and commitment to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of riverine communities, while urging beneficiaries and local government chairmen to ensure the equipment was properly utilised.
The event was attended by lawmakers, members of the Delta State Executive Council, chairmen of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas, traditional rulers, as well as leaders of fishermen and farmers’ associations.
The intervention is expected to boost fishing activities, improve food security and strengthen economic opportunities for residents whose livelihoods depend largely on the waterways.
