Uyo: Stakeholders in the veterinary sector have called for a strong legal framework to ensure proper management of animal health in the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, stakeholders from the Federal and State Ministry of Agriculture, Resolve to Save Lives, and Orixine Consulting expressed this need during a four-day stakeholders’ review meeting of the draft animal health bill in Uyo.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Akwa Ibom, Dr. Offiong Offor, emphasized the necessity for robust legal backing to enhance animal governance in the state and the country. Offor, represented by Dr. Teddy Essien, Director of Veterinary Services in the ministry, highlighted that such a framework would ensure accountability, improve coordination, and lead to better disease prevention outcomes.
Offor noted that stakeholders would be reviewing the findings of the 2024 Akwa Ibom Legal Assessment Report during the meeting, which provides the analytical foundation for the Draft Animal Health Bill. The review aims to address outdated provisions, gaps in disease notification systems, limitations in surveillance and laboratory capacity, and weaknesses in coordination across animal, human, and environmental health sectors.
Mr. Emmanuel Essien, Director of Legal Drafting at the Ministry of Justice, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting the review meeting’s outcomes. He described the review and update of the document as a positive development within the state.
Mrs. Unwana Udoette from the Ministry of Environment expressed confidence that the initiative would yield a strong legal framework for disease control. Meanwhile, Mrs. Charity Jonah from the Ministry of Trade and Investment raised concerns about food safety and the misuse of chemicals by market women, urging stakeholders to address these issues.
Dr. Rabi Usman, Senior Technical Advisor for Event-Based Surveillance at Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), pointed out that many human diseases today are zoonotic and stressed the need for stronger legislation to improve readiness. Usman expressed RTSL’s satisfaction in supporting Akwa Ibom and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening public health legal frameworks across Nigeria.
Mr. Aniekan Akpan of Orixine Consulting praised the reform initiative as a commendable step toward bolstering public and animal health laws in the state. He confirmed Orixine’s dedication to supporting the drafting, review, and harmonisation processes, ensuring alignment with national frameworks such as IHR (2005) and the National Animal Disease Surveillance System.
Participants from both federal and state-level institutions are expected to enhance the technical rigor of the Bill and ensure its alignment with national frameworks. They aim to produce a harmonised draft of the Bill and a legislative roadmap for its submission to the State Executive Council.
Other participants at the meeting included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).