The Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Prof. Moshood Raji, has urged Nigerians who are closer to pets to be cautious, as he lamented the state of the country’s abattoir.
Prof. Raji made the call at the Biennial Conference of the Kwara State Association of Veterinary Doctors of Nigeria, held at the Main Hall of the Kwara Hotels, Ilorin, Kwara state.
“The state of our abattoirs is now generally a major problem. Nigerians who are closer to the pets have to be cautious of their relationship with them”, he stressed.
Prof. Raji also urged all the tiers of government in the country to ensure that enough rules and regulations on abattoirs in the Constitution are followed and taken into use, addition enforcement, to address the menace.
He pointed out that as the menace is growing day-by-day professional abattoirs keep becoming more and well acceptable professions.
“We have been talking about emerging and re-emerging diseases and animal diseases such as rabies, diseases pox, tuberculosis and so on are all the transmissive diseases emerged from animal to man. We must do all humanly possible efforts to avert anybody infected with these diseases”, he stressed.
In his paper at the conference, “Evolution of Man and Animal”, the Kwara State House of Assembly member, representing Omupo State constituency, Hon. A. G. F. Salahudeen disclosed that humans are animals and selfish creatures who will not want to be tailored by any rule.
“In Nigeria, it seems like we have laws, rules, and regulations to oversee just about everything. We don’t always like these rules, since they often mean that someone is telling us what to do, or keeping us stand-alone what we want. Yet to live in civil society, we must have some rules to follow”, he added.
Hon. Salahudeen, who said that though there is no stand-alone law in Nigeria in respect of animal welfare and protection against cruelty, disclosed that there are various laws that provide for the welfare and protection of animals against cruelty.
“Section 13 of the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, Cap A17, LFN 2004 which protects Trade Animals against unnecessary stress, by mandating that before any animal is moved via any form of transport means from one area to another, a movement permit must be obtained to certify that every one such animal is stress-free and fit to travel. Trade Animals are cattle, sheep, goats, camels, horses donkeys and pigs whether for slaughter or as a load carrier. And in Section 2 of the Kwara State Animals (Diseases) Law, Cap A6, Laws of Kwara State of Nigeria, its definition of animals include birds and dogs. In Section 207 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria provides for the welfare and protection of animals against cruelty”, he stressed.
While assuring the Association of his support, Hon. AGF disclosed that the association has been instrumental in the development of the Ifelodun Local Government where he comes from and the Kwara State as a whole, especially as it relates to animal welfare to a certain extent.