Lagos inaugurates task force on veterinary practice premises

The Lagos State Government has inaugurated 11-man Task Force on Veterinary Practice Premises in the State in furtherance of its Red Meat Transformation Agenda.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya who inaugurated the Task Force in Lagos when she received the Working Team from the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, explained that the Task Force is expected to inspect, register and license veterinary premises that meet set requirements.

She noted that government was giving greater priority to the development of the Red Meat Value Chain through animal traceability, reactivation of control posts and quarantine at entry points in the State.

The Commissioner solicited the support and co-operation of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria towards the success of the State’s Red Meat Transformation Agenda adding that the veterinary services directorate has a very critical role to play in this regard.

“I am delighted to welcome the team from the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to Lagos State, the centre of excellence to the flag-off of the Task Force on the State Veterinary Practice Premises. The Task Force is expected to inspect, register and license veterinary premises that meet set requirements and the aim is to have premises with the right sets of professionals that will render quality services to the citizenry.

“Your visit is coming at a very appropriate time when the State Government is giving greater priority to the development of the entire Red Meat Value Chain through animal traceability, reactivation of control posts and quarantine at entry points in our state to detect diseased animals and moribund livestock, establishment of feedlots, upgrading of our abattoirs from slab slaughtering to mechanized abattoirs, carcass transportation through refrigerated vans and rehabilitation of our meat markets to international standard.

“You will agree with me that for the Red Meat Transformation Agenda to succeed, veterinary services have a very critical role to play, hence the much needed support and co-operation of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria cannot be over emphasized,” Olusanya said.

Standing Committee

Ms. Abisola Olusanya pointed out that the State Government had already put in place a standing Committee which derives its power from the Veterinary Premises Authority Act of 1978 to aid the smooth operation and activities of the Task Force.

Olusanya stated that the Committee had been able to officially renew and update the registration status of 30 Veterinary clinics, 55 Veterinary Pharmacies and six veterinary pharmaceutical companies in Year 2020 through the Lagos State Private Veterinary Premises Registration Authority (PVPRA) adding that this was made possible by the synergy between State Veterinary Department and the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Lagos.

The Commissioner said that so far, the registered veterinary premises figure stands at 26 Veterinary Clinics, 50 Veterinary Pharmacies, four Veterinary Ambulatory points, 22 Pet shops, six Veterinary Hospitals and two Veterinary Pharmaceutical companies with an estimated 500 private practicing Veterinarians state-wide.

She said “As a result of this, we have been able to maintain an acceptable standard of veterinary service delivery amongst private practitioners; maintain strong and growing impact on anti-quackery and sharp practices in veterinary services delivery in Lagos State; upgrade and rehabilitate our Veterinary clinics at Ajah, Ikorodu and Badagry; equip and furnish our Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Agege with reagents, chemicals and diagnostic kits to aid the extent and scope of service at the laboratory as a referral Veterinary Laboratory; as well as procure Veterinary Ambulance/Mobile Veterinary clinic.

“All these measures are expected to reflect positively in our overall disease surveillance, monitoring and control since a strong synergy exists between private Veterinarians and the State Government,”.

Proper regulations

Earlier, the President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, AIG (Dr.) Aishatu Baju noted that Lagos State was very strategic in the livestock industry in Nigeria as it holds the highest number of private veterinary premises and related industries in the country.

Baju added that as a result of the strategic nature of the State, the provision of veterinary services needs to be properly regulated in order to ensure that the State receive the best veterinary and other animal healthcare services.

She noted that she was aware of the commendable support that the livestock industry including veterinary services had been receiving from the Lagos State Government over the years but however stressed the need for improvement.

“With the official inauguration of the State Veterinary Practice Premises Committee today, the Committee is empowered to register, profile and regulate all Veterinary Premises across the State. I am happy to inform you that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria is in the process of digitalizing and geo-mapping of all Veterinary practices across the country.  It is expected that the Committee will be given all the support it needs to deliver on its mandate.

“On the part of the committee members, I wish to remind them of the high level of responsibility, hard work and diligence expected of them in delivering their mandates.

“Consequently, as we inaugurate this committee today, we are calling on all unregistered and the illegal Veterinary outfits in the entire nation to register with their various State committees within the next 60 days or face the full wrath of the law”.

Baju however reiterated the readiness and willingness of the Council to give full support to the activities of State Veterinary Practice Premises Committee including the enforcement of all necessary laws.

Emmanuel Ukoh