FG appoints police officer to lead Vet Council

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) now has a new Board to pilot its affairs since the last one was dissolved in 2015. The Council is now led by Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, a commissioner in the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. She holds a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology from the University of Plymouth […]

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) now has a new Board to pilot its affairs since the last one was dissolved in 2015.

The Council is now led by Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, a commissioner in the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

She holds a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology from the University of Plymouth and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

While inaugurating the Council last week, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, charged them to pursue its mandate regarding regulation of standard of veterinary training and practice in accordance with the law.

“It is our expectation that you pursue the mandate of the Council, which include regulating the standard of training and practice of veterinary medicine in Nigeria, in accordance with the provisions of the enabling act (Veterinary Surgeon Act) without rancour and conflict, among others,” he said.

He urged the council to deal with challenges confronting the livestock sub-sector, such as disease prevention, enforcement of veterinary laws, among others.

Dr Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, president of the Council, promised a new dawn and told quacks that their days were numbered.

“Part of my manifesto is to ensure enforcement of our existing laws, so as commissioner of police, it will not be a problem for me to ensure we enforce these laws,” she said.

Dr Bala Muhammad, the vice president of the Council, said with a new Board led by a commissioner of police as president, veterinary laws would be reinvigorated and enforced.

Other members of the Board include deans of faculties of Veterinary Medicine in notable Nigerian universities, among others.