Fifteen veterinary facilities have been shut down across Ibadan by the Oyo State Government during a recent clampdown on unauthorized veterinary practices.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development spearheaded the exercise, which also led to the seizure of veterinary supplies worth several millions of naira.
The action follows a series of inspections that exposed the failure of these establishments to meet the legal requirement of registering their premises as stipulated in the Oyo State Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment Regulation Law enacted in 2017.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, speaking through the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services, Olaoye Olakunle, emphasized that all veterinary clinics and practitioners must renew their registration with the Ministry every year.
This, according to the commissioner, allows for effective supervision, improved food safety, and the control of diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The commissioner also warned that the government will not hesitate to apply strict legal measures against defaulters. He described the exercise as a necessary step in the fight against unqualified practitioners and the unchecked spread of animal-borne diseases.
According to him, the government is committed to strengthening oversight in the veterinary field and will continue its enforcement efforts until full compliance is achieved across the state.
Present during the enforcement were leaders of key veterinary bodies, including John Famoyin, Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, and Awoyele Adebayo, President of the Association of Private Veterinary Medical Practitioners.
The Ministry is now urging all veterinary operators within the state to bring their practices in line with regulatory standards by registering their premises promptly.
