The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The bill was approved during Thursday’s plenary after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the House Committee on Ocean and Fisheries, presented by its Chairman, Hon. Akarachi Etinosa Amadi.
Presenting the report, Amadi recalled that the bill scaled second reading on May 7, 2025, before it was referred to the committee for further legislative action. He said the committee held a public hearing on July 14, 2025, where stakeholders from the maritime, education, and regional development sectors unanimously supported the proposal.
According to the committee chairman, the proposed institution is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s blue economy by providing specialised training in fisheries management, aquaculture, and marine engineering. He added that the college would help bridge the manpower gap in the maritime sector, expand access to technical and vocational education, and promote economic growth across the Niger Delta.
The legislation seeks to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act to provide the legal framework for establishing the specialised tertiary institution in the riverine community of Ngo, Rivers State.
