The House of Representatives has passed a bill to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Ngo, Rivers State.
The bill was passed following the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Ocean and Fisheries, Hon. Akarachi Etinosa Amadi, during plenary on Thursday.
The report read:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Ocean and Fisheries on a Bill for an Act to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap. A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering, Ngo, Rivers State, and for related matters (HB. 2189), and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 13/11/2025).
Presenting the report, Amadi recalled that the House concluded debate on the general principles of the bill on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, and subsequently referred it to the committee for further legislative action.
He said that, following its initial legislative stages, a public hearing was held on 14 July 2025, during which key stakeholders from the maritime, education and regional sectors considered the proposal.
According to Amadi, the bill received overwhelming support at the hearing, with stakeholders unanimously endorsing it for passage to promote economic growth and strengthen capacity development in the Niger Delta’s coastal region.
He explained that the proposed legislation seeks to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“The primary objective of the bill is to provide a statutory framework for the creation of a specialised tertiary institution focused on bolstering Nigeria’s blue economy. By embedding technical training in fisheries management, aquaculture and marine engineering within a coastal riverine community, the bill aims to address local manpower deficits in the maritime sector, expand access to technical and vocational education, and stimulate economic development across the Niger Delta region,” he said.
Amadi further stated that the bill is structured into three clauses designed to amend the existing statutory framework governing Nigeria’s agricultural research institutions.
He explained that Clauses 1 and 2 establish the statutory basis for amending the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap. A12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Clause 3, he said, is the principal operative provision of the bill, as it incorporates the proposed college into the Third Schedule to the Act alongside existing federal institutions.
“By inserting the institution into the Third Schedule, the bill provides the legal backing and statutory recognition required for the college to become fully operational. This will enable the institution to access federal funding and discharge its specialised mandate in fisheries technology and marine engineering,” he said.
The House subsequently adopted the committee’s recommendations and passed the bill.
