Hir Joseph
11 August 2008
analysis
Being one of the four oldest towns in Benue state has no added advantage for the heterogeneous and river side town of Katsina-Ala. This is so because the town is big only in name. It is the biggest name, next to Makurdi, the state capital. With nothing on ground to reflect any form of development over the years, apart from the aged Government College (GCK), which boasts of one of Northern Nigeria's most glorified old boys associations, Katsina-Ala is merely home to the Tivs, Hausas, Abakwas and Etulos.
Katsina-Ala's landscape has nothing to show other than a dysfunctional College of Education and the GCK, the dilapidated Akume Atono Stadium, the densely populated Hausa Quarters, the barely functional general hospital and the road-side local government secretariat.
Nevertheless, the town earns some glory by homing its most distinguishing socio-cultural landmark, Lake Akata. Lake Akata is on the passing River Katsina-Ala. The lake has assumed the status of one of Northern Nigeria's biggest fish sanctuaries and, by extension, an attraction of serious fishing activities culminating in what was known as Akata Fishing Festiva, in the past.
The festival usually held between March and April of every year, and it had captured the attention of fisher-folk and the general public in North Central Nigeria, specifically, the native Etulo and Abakwa people who are predominantly fishermen and women in the area along with their Tiv neighbours celebrated the festival for long before the government of Benue state took over in 1977.
A year after the creation of Benue state in 1976, the state government decided to take over the management - protection and conservation of fish species and the environment of the lake. This is because of the enormous potentials of the lake, which could also serve as freshwater fisheries biological station for the study and development of fishes of the Benue area. It was also thought that the lake would be developed into a historical, resort and tourist centre.
Between the late 80s and the 90s, Akata Fishing Festival was expanded to be staged annually for the fisher-folk to harvest from it on a competitive basis, with the big catches attracting prizes. A cultural show was added to the festival to provide colour and entertainment and also that the people of the state could have the opportunity to showcase their rich cultural and agricultural heritage.
Akata Fishing and Cultural Festival, as it is now called, is, therefore, a celebration of friendship and unity among the diverse peoples linked by historical antecedents, trading and tourism promotions.
In 1977, the biggest fish caught weighted 110.5kg. In recent times however, fish population, species and sizes have dwindled. Fishes inhabiting Akata Lake are mostly Nile perch, otherwise known as Lates Niloticus or Giwan-Ruwa in Hausa, Ko-Ishu in Tiv and Onwe Ofya in Etulo, as well as some catfishes.
The host town, Katsina-Ala is a riverside resort with a unique feature and the scenic beauty of savannah landscape, supplemented by famous River Katsina-Ala with extensive Fadama floodplain covered by numerous lakes dotted all around. Although a new found land, Katsina-Ala town has, for decades, maintained its status as a fishing centre.
Subsequent administrations in the state, however, failed to manage this huge tourism potential to a status where it can attract international patronage. The worst of it came when, between 1997 and 2003, the event could not hold due to the inability of the authorities to coordinate its activities. No reason was given for the failure. Neither was any apology given.
The last, therefore, of the event was in 1996 when the state government attempted to attract investors from foreign countries. The festival's failure to hold from then to the following eight years, however, diminished this golden opportunity and the lakes were neglected, thereby encouraging the natives to go into them with various harmful practices.
Consequently, it became virtually impossible to record a catch of more than the size of an infant's arm. When the administration of former Governor George Akume organized the festival finally in 2004, it was merely a cultural show since the catches that the fisher-folks turned in could not attract any serious attention. Government, however, doled out prizes just as a form of encouragement and to register its determination to continue with the management of the lakes. It failed, however, to keep up the determination as throughout his remaining years in office, Dr. George Akume looked the other way while Tiv, Etulo and Abakwa natives went in with all manner of chemicals and explosives as well as drag nets and terminated the aqua life with arrogant impunity.
When the present administration under Governor Gabriel Tor-Suswam decided, therefore, to resuscitate the event last April, it was starting almost from nowhere, as even the access road leading from Katsina-Ala township to the lakes was at this time taken over by shrubs. The state commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Benjamin Ashaver, under whose purview the management of the lakes falls, expressed surprise that the tourism potential dwindled to the extent that there was hardly an access road to the lakes until one was hurriedly constructed for the purpose of the event. The organization of the event dragged into the month of May because an access road had to be constructed during the rainy season.
The event was, therefore, called The 14th Annual Akata Fishing and Cultural Festival, according to Benjamin Ashaver, who welcomed guests to it. The commissioner said the event offered a unique opportunity and the primary mission was to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of agricultural and renewable natural resources of the state for the maximum benefit of the people of Benue and, indeed, humanity.
"For a developing country like Nigeria, it must be appreciated that government initiates and leads in almost every aspect of our development efforts. Since independence, agricultural development in Nigerian in particular has been government-driven", Ashaver said, but added that "the private sector will need to do more in this area. Government establishes demonstration farms and, in some cases, agricultural and food industries for its people. Sadly, however, these projects are hardly sustainable. Today, there are many moribund agricultural projects scattered all over Benue State and, indeed, the entire country."
The commissioner commended the efforts of the Governor Suswam led administration to extend support to the ministry towards sustainable agriculture and natural resources development and conservation in the state.
He said "it is palpable fact that economic emancipation opportunities abound in water and fisheries resources development in Benue State. There are potentials for investment in fish production, processing and marketing; sport or recreation fishing and tourism. The fisheries sub-sector can also create and provide job opportunities in the rural areas."
The commissioner encouraged Benue people to invest in fisheries, saying that the venture can enhance food security, poverty alleviation and reduction in rural-urban drift. Promotion of integrated aqua cultural and agricultural businesses as well as artisan craftsmanship in boat building and fishing gear technology, according to him, are lucrative livelihood franchises for entrepreneurship development. "There is therefore the need for concerted efforts to develop this sub-sector to promote rural economy", he said.
Now, River Katsina-Ala has about five large and highly productive lakes located on both sides, all within a 10-kilometre distance from the township. These lakes can be developed into a tourist centre. It is believed that the socio-economic and cultural benefits derivable from such a venture are also enormous. Apart from fish production, preservation of cultural and historical values, conservation, science and research, commerce and recreation can be ensured and a lot of revenue can be generated from the tourism potentials of the project for the state.
For instance, Governor Suswam's Special Adviser on Media, Mr. James Uloko, noted that facilities such as hotels, permanent pavilions, shops, boats, museum and lodges can be provided as tourism attraction to draw even foreigners to the lakes for recreation.
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