NGO Advocates Law To Protect Animals Rights In Nigeria

A youth-based Non-Governmental Organisation, known as Junior Chamber International JCI, has advocated the enactment of a law to protect the rights of animals in the country.

The Presiding Officer in charge of the organisation in Benue State, Miss. Maria Omenka made the call during an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Makurdi, Benue State Capital in North Central Nigeria at a scheduled programme organised to mark the World Veterinary Day celebration.

Miss Omenka said, “The law should also make provision for the prohibition of the sale and consumption of sick animals with a severe penalty for defaulters.”

The event was organised by Junior Chamber International JCI, in partnership with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the Association of Veterinary Medical Students, Humanitarian Aid for the Less Privileged Foundation and the Global Women’s Health, Rights and Environment Initiative.

Miss Omenka; “I want people to show more care and respect for animals. People should stop eating sick animals. There should be a law in place to prevent people from selling sick animals for human consumption and if there’s a law already in place, it has to be strengthened. “

She explained that the call became necessary to put an end to arbitrary abuse of the rights of animals, to promote decency and to avoid increasing cases of transmission of sicknesses from animals to humans.

Miss Omenka expressed the optimism that if human beings begin to accord respect to animals, it would equally improve respect for the sanctity city of life in human relations.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Association, Benue State Chapter, Dr Mathew Tion said “the organisers had envisaged a One Health Community Outreach targeting the treatment of animals, humans and as well as giving attention to the environment.”

She warned livestock farmers against ignorance and urged them to engage the services of veterinary doctors at every stage of livestock farming in order properly guided in the processes involved.

The Coordinator of Humanitarian Aid for the Less Privileged Foundation, Isaac Oko commended the Tilley Gyado Community for cooperating with the organications to smooth the conduct of the exercise.

He said the programme, supported by the Nigerian Red Cross Society featured free deworming exercises, distribution of condoms and lubricants, free Hiv testing and Counseling, free anti-rabies for dogs and PPR vaccination for goats.

Some beneficiaries of the services including Esther Ordam and Martina Obekpa whose goats and dogs were vaccinated, thanked the organisers of the programme.

They called for the sustenance of the free outreach exercise.

Mercy Chukwudiebere