The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has called on the Abia State Government to establish additional veterinary clinics across the state to strengthen livestock disease control and protect residents from consuming diseased meat.
The leader of the Tsetse Fly Surveillance and Control Project, Gilbert Okoro, made the appeal after a verification tour of Abia’s three senatorial districts, citing concerns over inadequate veterinary services at the Lokpanta Cattle Market.
Okoro warned that the shortage of veterinary clinics and regulatory personnel could allow diseased livestock to enter the food chain, potentially undermining public health despite ongoing improvements in the state’s healthcare sector by Governor Alex Otti.
He recommended the establishment of state-owned veterinary clinics in all three senatorial districts, noting that the Federal Government can only provide one federal veterinary clinic per state.
Also speaking, veterinary technician Chimobi Ebisike raised concerns over poor safety measures and inadequate security at the Lokpanta Cattle Market, urging increased funding and stronger oversight to safeguard public health and improve livestock monitoring.
