Vet council threatens to close unregistered unfits

The President of Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr Aisha Abubakar Baju, has warned all unregistered veterinary outfits in the country to get registered within 60 days or face the full wrath of the law.

Baju, who is a serving Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Nigeria Police Force, threatened to clamp down on such outfits after the 60 days.

She said this during the official flag-off of the state Veterinary Practice Premises Task Force at Calton Gate Xclusive Hotel, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The AIG said the choice of Oyo State for the flag-off was premised on the prime place of the state in the poultry industry in Nigeria.

Part of the programme was the inauguration of a 10-man task force committee headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Saidat Bolatumi Oloko.

Baju said: “The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) is an agency of the government vested with the mandate to regulate the quality of trading and practice of veterinary medicine in Nigeria. One of the ways through which the council carries out its regulatory function is by making sure all veterinary practice premises are duly registered, and maintain minimum standards of practice that would ensure the delivery of quality services to the populace.

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

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Oloko lamented the prevalence of quackery in the sector.

Earlier, the president had visited the Oyo State House of Assembly where she lauded the Ninth Assembly for its consideration and passage of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, said the Dogs Amendment Bill 2019 was among the 73 bills already passed by the Ninth Oyo Assembly and assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde.