The Akwa Ibom State Government has moved to strengthen animal health governance and disease prevention by launching a four-day stakeholder review of the Draft Animal Health Bill.
In collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) and Orixine Consulting, the initiative brings together federal and state experts, including representatives from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, to review the bill, close regulatory gaps and enhance coordination across animal, human, and environmental health sectors.
Opening the session, Dr Teddy Essien, Director of Veterinary Services, representing the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, stressed the need for a robust legal framework to improve animal health governance.
“Strengthening the State’s legal framework is essential for accountability, better coordination, and effective disease prevention,” he said.
Emmanuel E. Essien, Director of Legal Drafting at the Ministry of Justice, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to the reform process, noting that updating the law reflects positive developments in Akwa Ibom.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Local Government, and Trade and Investment underscored the importance of integrating food safety, environmental, and commercial considerations into the Bill.
Dr Rabi Usman of RTSL emphasized the critical link between animal and human health, pointing out that many emerging diseases are zoonotic.
She reiterated RTSL’s support for strengthening Nigeria’s public health legal framework, citing successful initiatives in states such as Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.
Aniekan Akpan of Orixine Consulting described the initiative as a “bold step” toward harmonizing public and animal health laws and reaffirmed Orixine’s technical support for the drafting process.
The review focuses on key provisions of the Draft Animal Health Bill, including the establishment of State Veterinary Services, improved disease surveillance systems, clear reporting and movement control requirements, strengthened abattoir regulations, waste management standards, and coordination under the One Health framework.
Participants are tasked with aligning the Bill with national regulations, including the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the National Animal Disease Surveillance System.
The four-day meeting is expected to conclude with a harmonized draft of the Animal Health Bill and a roadmap for submission to the State Executive Council, marking a significant step in modernizing Akwa Ibom’s animal health legislation and safeguarding public health.