The Kwara Government has been advised to employ more veterinary officers to enhance professionalism and curb quackery in the state.

The Chairman, Veterinary Practicing Premises Committee of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Olatunji Nasir gave the advice during the inauguration ceremony of the State Committee on Veterinary Practicing Premises Regulation on Tuesday in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 9-man committee has Dr Abdullateef Saliman, the Director of Veterinary Services, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, as Chairman, while Dr Saka Shittu, Dr Sambo Yoksa, representative of State Office of the Council, and Dr Aliyu Kabir, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, would as members.

Others are CSP (Dr) Seyi Akano, Dr Babatunde Johnson, Dr Aminu Idiat, Alhaji Yunusa Alao and Dr Richards Bukola.

Nasir, in a paper he delivered during the inauguration, titled: “Veterinary Practicing Premises: Tools for Qualitative Veterinary Services”, explained that inadequate manpower in the field of veterinary practice had greatly contributed to the influx of quackery in the profession in Kwara and the country at large.

Nasir, who is also the President, Commonwealth Veterinary Council, identified unavailability of authentic service and failure of veterinarians to provide last mile services compounded by lax regulatory environment, as the reasons for non-professionals in veterinary practice in the country.

According to him, the state government should establish a regulatory and accreditation agency in the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out complete audit of the veterinary ecosystem.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Shittu thanked the Veterinary Council of Nigeria for the opportunity given them to contribute their quota to the development of veterinary practice in the state.

Shittu, who is also the Kwara Chairman, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), solicited the support of stakeholders in the state and assured that the committee would carry out its mandate responsibly.

Earlier, the state government, through the Director of Agriculture Services of the ministry, Mallam Alhassan Mohammed, assured the committee of necessary support needed for effective discharge of its responsibilities.

NAN