by Cheta Nwanze

Some of us refuse to admit it, but we all need each other, and that is what makes Thursday’s protest by as many as 400 Catholic priests in Imo state even more ridiculous.

According to the last reliable data we have, which comes from 2007, Nigeria produces 600,000 metric tonnes of fish per annum. In that year, we imported 740,000 metric tonnes of fish. In that year, demand was 2.66 million metric tonnes, which implied that we had a national shortfall that year of 1.32million metric tonnes of fish. Considering that fish accounts for 35% of our animal protein, that shortfall is huge. One more statistic, the Lake Chad Basin accounts for almost a third of our fish production.

These statistics, are backed up by this report from ThisDay this morning in its story which informs us that prices of fish and beef in Lagos are on the rise because of the state of emergency in our country’s north-east. This incident goes to show just how interdependent we are in this country. Some of us refuse to admit it, but we all need each other, and that is what makes Thursday’s protest by as many as 400 Catholic priests in Imo state even more ridiculous.

The Robes were protesting the fact that the Pope in his wisdom decided to appoint another Robe, Monsignor Okpalaeke, also an Igbo chap, as Bishop of Ahiara.

According to the last reliable data we have, which comes from 2007, Nigeria produces 600,000 metric tonnes of fish per annum. In that year, we imported 740,000 metric tonnes of fish. In that year, demand was made by the Pope ex cathedra is infallible, were I Pope, I’d de-robe every last one of those geezers.

Bits and bobs

The war in the north-east rages on, but it appears that we are winning.

Apparently all of my Urhobo friends would take to the streets in their birthday suits if GEJ refuses to run for Prez in two years. I love the comment that went with that story, so Ese, Benji, Tega et all, make una exercise before that protest o. I want to see toned bodies, not flab.

In Abuja, Mrs Achebe and children have been listed as special guests to the funeral of Onye Nkwuzi.

ThisDay has sorted its staff. The tragedy is that it took a Mexican stand-off to achieve that.

P.S: No right of reply today as I have a meeting in a few minutes. Quite a few emails came in response to Friday’s newsletter tomorrow, including a sermon. I’ll respond tomorrow.
P.S2: The Sokoto/Kebbi area produces more fish than the Borno area. How about that?

————————

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.