Nasir Imam
15 December 2011
The Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi has frowned at the indiscriminate operation of illegal livestock markets across the Federal Capital Territory.
Public Relations Officer of the secretariat, Abuo Francis Ojie, said Mrs Madayi expressed her displeasure when this ugly development was brought to her notice by the National Livestock Dealers Association, Abuja through the Department of Agriculture.
She noted that such illegal livestock markets regularly associated with festive periods serve to undermine the efforts of the secretariat in trying to maintain world acceptable standards in the transportation and handling of livestock so as to avoid animal and human health risks and environmental pollution.
The secretary said the illegal markets existing at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council, Dutse Alhaji junction along Kubwa expressway and some filling stations across the territory constitute health hazards and also huge revenue loss to the secretariat and so will not be tolerated.
Mrs Madayi further stated that there were designated livestock markets already existing at Dei-Dei, Gwagwalada and Kugbo where proper monitoring and inspection of livestock are carried out by qualified veterinary doctors to ascertain if they were fit for consumption or not.
She therefore advised residents to buy their livestock at the designated markets where the secretariat was sure of their purchasing healthy animals.
She reiterated her commitment in ensuring that the residents had the best food and meat that would not endanger their lives after consumption and urged residents to help the secretariat serve them better by not patronizing the illegal markets.
The secretary called on all those who were operating these illegal livestock sale points to desist from such activities or face arrested and prosecuted.
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