Moses Arokoya, president of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, has said that 65 per cent of human diseases in Nigeria are Zoonotic  (livestock-related).

Mr Arokoya made the declaration on Monday at the 61st Annual National Congress/Annual General Meeting of the NVMA, in Jalingo.

He noted that zoonotic diseases were on the  increase in Nigeria, resulting in 2.7 million lives lost globally annually.

He said the choice of Taraba for the conference was strategic, noting that a disease-free zone would be established on the Mambilla Plateau.

The president added that the eradication of diseases from the Mambilla Plateau would lead  to the production of large metric tons of fresh meat.

Mr Arokoya said that more DFZ were needed in  the country to make livestock production an economic stimulus. The president further decried the state of abattoirs in Nigeria, adding that poor abattoirs have enhanced microbial resistance as most Nigerians consume drugs used in the treatment of livestock before they are slaughtered.

Mr Arokoya said that modern abattoirs were needed in the 774 local government areas to address the menace.
He commented on President Bola Tinubu for the reforms in  the livestock sector, adding that the veterinarians needed empowerment from the federal government.

Mr Arokoya also requested that the National Emergency Management Agency include them in its disaster intervention policy.

He stressed the need to include veterinarians in the preparedness and response strategies for emergencies.

(NAN)