By Isaiah Eka
Stakeholders in the veterinary sector have called for a strong legal framework to ensure proper management of animal health in the country.
The stakeholders from the Federal and State Ministry of Agriculture, Resolve to Save Lives, and Orixine Consulting said this in Uyo during a four-day stakeholders’ review meeting of the draft animal health bill.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Akwa Ibom, Dr Offiong Offor, said there was an urgent need to provide strong legal backing for effective animal governance in the state and country.
Offor, represented by Dr Teddy Essien, Director of Veterinary Services in the ministry, said that the legal framework would ensure accountability, improve coordination, and achieve better disease prevention outcomes.
Offor said that stakeholders would review the findings of the 2024 Akwa Ibom Legal Assessment Report during the meeting.
She added that the review provided the analytical foundation for the subsequent consideration of the Draft Animal Health Bill.
“Stakeholders will examine outdated provisions, gaps in disease notification systems, limitations in surveillance and laboratory capacity, and weaknesses in coordination across animal, human, and environmental health sectors.
“The state government must strengthen its legal framework to ensure accountability, improve coordination, and achieve better disease prevention outcomes,” Offor said.
In his remarks, Mr Emmanuel Essien, Director of Legal Drafting, Ministry of Justice, reiterated the commitment of the ministry to support the outcome of the review meeting.
According to him, the review and update of the document reflect positive development within the state.
“The Ministry of Justice is pleased to be part of the process.”
Also speaking, Mrs Unwana Udoette of the Ministry of Environment expressed confidence that the initiative would produce a strong legal framework for disease control.
Mrs Charity Jonah of the Ministry of Trade and Investment highlighted rising concerns over food safety and the improper use of chemicals by market women, urging stakeholders to consider these issues carefully.
Dr Rabi Usman, Senior Technical Advisor for Event-Based Surveillance, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), noted that many human diseases today were zoonotic.
Usman stressed the need for stronger legislation to improve readiness.
She expressed RTSL’s satisfaction in supporting Akwa Ibom.
She also reaffirmed that the organisation would work in strengthening public health legal frameworks across Nigeria.
“RTSL has led or supported successful reforms in Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa, and continues to provide technical support to ongoing legislative reform processes in Kebbi, Enugu, Ogun, Nasarawa, and Cross River states,” she said.
Mr Aniekan Akpan of Orixine Consulting described the reform initiative as a bold and commendable step toward strengthening public health and animal health laws in the state.
Akpan reaffirmed Orixine’s commitment to supporting the drafting, review, and harmonisation processes.
“Participants from both federal and state level institutions are expected to enhance the technical rigour of the Bill and ensure alignment with national frameworks such as IHR (2005) and the National Animal Disease Surveillance System,” he said.
He said participants are expected 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 were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
