Nigeria: Government, fish farmers seek truce over water crisis

The Kwara State government and catfish farmers in the state are trying to reach a common ground over the recent water crisis that threatened the industry in the state. The government had raised the alarm over the activities of catfish farmers at the Asa Dam, warning that it may truncate water supply to citizens. According to the former commissioner for water resources then, Wahab Femi Agbaje, the Asa Dam reservoir was not meant for fishing activities but solely for raw water impoundment. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that at the core of the disagreement between the government and the catfish farmers is the issue of the discharge of the effluent into the river among other complaints. Agbaje further explained that the damage being done to the water infrastructure through the activities of fish farmers may soon truncate water supply to most parts of Ilorin metropolis if not curbed. “Fishing activities and discharge of the effluent have been the order of the day over the past years. ...