Stakeholders in the veterinary sector have called for a strong legal framework to ensure effective management of animal health in the country.
The call was made in Uyo during a four-day stakeholders’ review meeting on the draft Animal Health Bill, with participants drawn from the Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), and Orixine Consulting.
In her remarks, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, said there was an urgent need to provide strong legal backing for effective animal health governance in the state and the country at large.
Offor, who was represented by Dr Teddy Essien, Director of Veterinary Services in the ministry, said a robust legal framework would strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and enhance disease prevention.
She noted that stakeholders would also review the findings of the 2024 Akwa Ibom Legal Assessment Report, which provides the analytical foundation for 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“Stakeholders will examine outdated provisions, gaps in disease notification systems, limitations in surveillance and laboratory capacity, and weaknesses in coordination across animal, human, and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,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Essien, Director of Legal Drafting at the Ministry of Justice, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the outcome of the review, describing the process as a positive development for the state.
Mrs Unwana Udoette of the Ministry of Environment expressed confidence that the initiative would produce a strong legal framework for disease control.
Similarly, Mrs Charity Jonah of the Ministry of Trade and Investment raised concerns over food safety and the improper use of chemicals by traders, urging stakeholders to address such issues in the bill.
Dr Rabi Usman, Senior Technical Advisor for Event-Based Surveillance at Resolve to Save Lives, noted that many emerging human diseases are zoonotic, stressing the need for stronger legislation to improve readiness.
She said RTSL was pleased to support Akwa Ibom and would continue to strengthen 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 and animal health laws in the state.
He reaffirmed Orixine’s commitment to supporting the drafting, review, and harmonization processes.
“Participants from both federal and state institutions are expected to enhance the technical rigour of the bill and ensure alignment with national frameworks such as the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the National Animal Disease Surveillance System,” he said.
He added that the participants were expected to produce a harmonized draft of the bill and a legislative roadmap for its submission to the State Executive Council.
Participants at the meeting also included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
