A Professor of Chemistry, Akan Williams, has called on the Nigerian government to regulate the use of antibiotics to safeguard public health.
Williams, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, made the appeal on Monday during the institution’s 34th Inaugural Lecture held in Sango-Ota.
The lecture was titled “The Burdens of Pollution and Imperatives for Environmental Clean-Up.”
According to Williams, investigations have revealed that some feed millers secretly fortify poultry feed with antibiotics, exposing chickens to sub-therapeutic doses of drugs. He warned that this practice poses significant health risks to consumers.
“These farmers do not observe the required withdrawal period before selling poultry treated with antibiotics, thereby exposing consumers to hazardous antibiotic residues,” he said.
He added that findings also showed elevated levels of antibiotic residues in tissues of locally produced meat and in samples of illegally imported meat products.
Williams urged relevant authorities to take urgent action to reduce and regulate the use of antibiotics, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring and surveillance by regulatory agencies.
He also called for nationwide awareness campaigns to educate feed producers and farmers about the dangers associated with the misuse of antibiotics.
In addition, he appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to intensify efforts in monitoring and protecting the country’s borders to prevent the entry of illegal meat products containing harmful residues.
In his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Timothy Anake, stated that the 34th Inaugural Lecture reflected the institution’s commitment to fostering intellectual discourse, driving impactful research, and nurturing a new generation of leaders for a sustainable future.
The Chancellor of the university, Dr. David Oyedepo, also emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria and other African nations to clean up their environments and take responsibility for addressing their own challenges.
