The Veterinary Council of Nigeria has issued a 60-day ultimatum to unregistered and illegal veterinary facilities to register or be shut down.

Inaugurating an 11-man Lagos State Veterinary Practice Premises Committee on Thursday at the Lagos Ministry of Agriculture, Alausa, president Aishatu Baju stated that the committee would inspect, register, and register license veterinary premises.

The committee members included Rasheed Macauley, Idris Adegboyega, Omileye Ayokunle, Mary Ogunleye, Olufemi Aroso, Mobolaji Akio, and Funmilayo Alao.

Ms Baju noted that the committee was saddled with regulating the operations of veterinary premises and practitioners in the state.

She warned that veterinary premises that failed to register after 60 days would be shut down completely.

“The next time I am coming to Lagos, it is to seal all unregistered premises. In the next 60 days, I will be coming back to Lagos to clamp down on all unregistered veterinary premises,” Ms Baju stated. “The Commissioner of Police is with us on this. We will ensure that only registered veterinary premises operate in the country.”

She described Lagos as strategic for the livestock industry in Nigeria, as it held the highest number of private veterinary premises and related facilities in the country.

Ms Baju added that the strategic nature of the state had made it mandatory for veterinary services to be properly regulated to ensure that the state received the best veterinary and other animal healthcare services.

“I am aware of the commendable support that the livestock industry, including the veterinary services, have been receiving from the Lagos state government over the years, but there is a need for improvement,” said the veterinary council president. “I am happy to inform you that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria is in the process of digitising and geo-mapping all veterinary practices across the country.”

(NAN)