The Veterinary Council of Nigeria has issued a 60-day ultimatum to all unregistered and illegal veterinary premises in Nigeria to register with the various state committees or face the full wrath of the law.
Inaugurating an 11-man Lagos State Veterinary Practice Premises Committee, on Thursday at the Lagos state Ministry of Agriculture, Alausa, Ikeja, the President of the council, Dr Aishatu Baju said that the committee would inspect, register and license veterinary premises in the state.
The committee members included: Dr. Rasheed Macauley, Chairman; Dr Idris Adegboyega, Dr Omileye Ayokunle, Dr Mary Ogunleye, Dr Olufemi Aroso, Dr Mobolaji Akio and Dr Funmilayo Alao.
Other members are: Dr Helen Oputa-Chime, DSP Idris Nagoyo, Dr Sunday Adigun and Mr Oluwaseyi Ogbe.
Baju, who said the committee was saddled with the responsibility of regulating the operations of veterinary premises and practitioners in the state, called on the government to give the committee all the support it needed to deliver on its mandate.
According to her, any veterinary premises that failed to register after 60 days, will be shut down completely, and that the clampdown would be enforced in collaboration with the committee.
“The next time I am coming to Lagos, it is to seal all unregistered premises. In the next 60 days, I will be coming back to Lagos to clampdown on all unregistered veterinary premises.
“The Commissioner of Police is with us on this. We will ensure that only registered veterinary premises operate in the country,” Baju said.
She described Lagos state as very strategic for the livestock industry in Nigeria, as it held the highest number of private veterinary premises and related facilities in the country.
Baju noted that the strategic nature of the state had made it mandatory for veterinary services to be properly regulated, to ensure that the state received the best veterinary and other animal healthcare services.
“I am aware of the commendable support that the livestock industry, including the veterinary services have been receiving from the Lagos State Government over the years, but there is need for improvement.
“I am happy to inform you that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria is in the process of digitising and geo-mapping all veterinary practices across the country”, she said.
