Anthrax: Oyo Government Seals Pharmacy Operating Illegal Vet Services
By Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan
The Oyo State Government has sealed FinRel Pharmacy Supermarket and Bakery for violating the state veterinary laws by operating illegal veterinary pharmacy and engaging in veterinary clinical services. The news is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
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Sealing the premises in Ibadan, on Monday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said FinRel had violated Veterinary Practicing Premises Registration Regulation 2018; Oyo State Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment law, 2017 and Animal Diseases Control Act, 2022.
The Commissioner, speaking through the Deputy Director (Monitoring), Dr AbdulRrazzaq Lawal, said the move was in line with the state government efforts to curtail and prevent the outbreak of diseases, adding that government would not relent in its effort to ensure safety of lives and property.
Olasunkanmi, who disclosed that the practice could put the health of members of the public in danger, assured that the move was not to witch-hunt any body but to ensure sanity in the veterinary service delivery in the state.
He said: “We discovered, through our surveillance, that the owner of the premises is operating an illegal veterinary pharmacy and engaging in veterinary clinical services without registration with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which is against the law. Using of unapproved location for sale of veterinary products, as well as treatment of sick animals that can put post health risk to humans, as their customers can contract zoonotic diseases from the location,” Olasunkanmi stated.
The Commissioner hinted that the state government would not allow any person or group of persons’ selfish interests put the entire state in danger of contracting diseases from animals.
He however enjoined the public to support government’s effort in preventing outbreak of diseases, while advising all unregistered veterinary premises to register according to the law.
