The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has drawn the attention of government at all levels to the poor state of abattoirs and slaughterhouses across the country.
The NVMA also called on all tiers of government to rehabilitate and build livestock facilities and re-invest in research institutions and universities.
This is contained in a communique signed by its National President, Professor Bello Agaie and issued to journalists at the end of its 56 Annual Congress held in Lokoja with the theme ‘Veterinary Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Way Forward’.
The communique noted that the Nigerian agricultural sector is on the decline because of neglect of rural infrastructure, inconsistent agricultural policies and difficult environment for agribusiness.
The congress while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for Instituting the National Livestock Transformation Plan, also recommending for actions to be taken to end the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.
The Communique reads that congress “notes that the agricultural industry is still on the decline as a result of neglect of rural infrastructure, inconsistent agricultural policies, difficult environment for agribusinesses, corruption and disregard for the rule of law, inspire of the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy.
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“Affirms its support to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in bringing back the nation’s attention to livestock agriculture through National livestock Transformation Plan and its importance to growing the economy.
“Re-emphasize that the livestock sector still remains a pathway to wealth and out of poverty, and calls for strategies for genetic improvement of our national herd, increase intensification of livestock production at both large and small scale and a robust livestock extension system.
“Recommend good governance and leadership, strong institutions and rule of law in order to solve the problems of blood-letting in the country due to herdsmen/farmers conflict.
“Draws the attention of the various tiers of government to the food safety situation in the country, particularly the wholesomeness of foods of animal origin coming out of our abattoirs and slaughterhouses.
“Congress, therefore, calls on various tiers of government to rehabilitate and build livestock facilities, re-invest in Research Institutions and Universities.
“Recommends that the Veterinary facilities/colleges should partner with established veterinary entrepreneurs to impact entrepreneurship skills to students in order to address the entrepreneurial aspects of the profession.
“Notes with concern the animal disease reporting situation in Nigeria and encourages state governments to train private veterinarians to take advantage of the digital disease reporting template of the Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services (FDVPCS) for effective disease monitoring, as well as intensify Veterinary control posts activities to combat trans-boundary animal disease transmission”.
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