A Professor of Chemistry, Akan Williams, has called on the Nigerian government to regulate the use of antibiotics in order to protect public health and address the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.
Williams, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, made the appeal during the university’s 34th Inaugural Lecture, held on Monday in Sango-Ota. The lecture was titled: “The Burdens of Pollution and Imperatives for Environmental Clean-Up.”
According to Williams, investigations have revealed that feed millers often fortify animal feed with antibiotics, exposing poultry chickens to sub-therapeutic doses of the drugs.
He said many farmers fail to observe the required cessation period before selling treated poultry birds, thereby exposing consumers to hazardous antibiotic residues.
“The findings also indicated elevated levels of antibiotic residues in tissues of both locally produced and illegally imported meat samples,” he noted.
Professor Williams warned that the unregulated use of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance and poses significant risks to public health.
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He urged the government and relevant regulatory agencies to step up surveillance and implement stricter controls on antibiotic use in the livestock industry.
He also emphasised the need for widespread public education campaigns to sensitise feed producers and farmers on the dangers of misusing antibiotics.
Furthermore, he called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to intensify efforts at securing the nation’s borders to prevent the influx of contaminated meat and feed products.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Timothy Anake, stated that the inaugural lecture reflected the institution’s commitment to promoting intellectual engagement, impactful research, and leadership development for a sustainable future.
Also speaking, the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, stressed the importance of environmental responsibility, urging Nigeria and other African nations to prioritise clean-up initiatives and take ownership of their development challenges.