The President Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Professor Israel Adu has disclosed that the federal government would soon roll out a document to regulate the management of abattoirs in the country.
Professor Adu disclosed this at a dinner in honour of the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Professor Suleiman Bogoro.
There has been public outcry on the poor state of Nigerian abattoir.
Professor Adu said, “NIAS was established by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament No 26 of 2007 as amended to regulate Animal Science practice and all matter relating to animal husbandry in Nigeria thus professionalizing of animal science in Nigeria.
“Since inception, the institute has taken giant strides in stamping its feet and authority on the sand of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
“As at today, we have 3560 Registered Animal Scientists (certified Professional Animal Scientists) and about 5600 graduate Animal Scientists, developed appropriate minimum operating standards and procedures and code practice for various livestock species and operations for the industry for compliance with international benchmarks”.
Speaking on some of the Institute achievements, he said “we have also developed regulations for feed milling, hatchery operations, animal science practice while the regulations for abattoir management and procedures will soon be gazetted.
“We are and are carrying out resource verification in all departments of Animal Science in Nigeria universities to ensure that there are adequate human and material resources for quality training of students.
“We have established NIAS Centres of excellence in each of the geo-political zones with comparative advantage for specific research capability”.
He added, “We have established a postgraduate college of Animal Science to train and equip Animal Scientists to practice as consultants.
“We are a strong member of the International Feed Regulators which has made Nigeria complaint with International Feed Safety Requirements and Memoranda of Understanding with local and international organisations.
“Today, a registered Animal Scientist form Nigeria can practice in the USA without further training”, he added.
While expressing delight at the dinner organised in his honour, Professor Suleiman Bogoro commended the presidential anti corruption crusade, calling on leaders across government agencies to embrace the crusade as the only panacea towards economic growth
