Veterinary association at 50, calls for livestock ministry

He stated this during a press briefing marking the 50th anniversary of the association on Monday in Abuja.Dr. Enahoro stressed that government has given so much attention to crop farming while little attention was given to livestock farmers. “My verdict is that Nigeria itself needs to step up in genuinely recognizing so many dormant non-oil […]

He stated this during a press briefing marking the 50th anniversary of the association on Monday in Abuja.
Dr. Enahoro stressed that government has given so much attention to crop farming while little attention was given to livestock farmers. “My verdict is that Nigeria itself needs to step up in genuinely recognizing so many dormant non-oil reserve resources and potentials in this country such as exist in animals and livestock. We have a lot of potential trapped. But the attention given to oil allows those potentials to remain untapped,” he maintained.
He said the unemployment and criminality that is associated with that can be reduced drastically through a large scale government-inspired animal farming in the country.
“We call on government to create a ministry or at least agencies that will take care of the increasing number of livestock farmers in the country”, the president appealed.
Meanwhile, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), who received honorary award alongside some distinguished personalities, applauded the effort of veterinary doctors in curtailing many animal diseases such as avian influenza in 2006 in the country.
He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the association’s 50th anniversary held at the ECOWAS Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja.