As Nigeria’s government plans to extend lockdown order slammed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the National Poultry Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has called on the Federal and state governments not to restrict the movement of food items, medication, poultry, and poultry feeds in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
The Association observed that there was a need to change the current approach, as the approach is causing more panicking that worsens the solution.
The National President of the poultry farmers, Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim who made the call while fielding questions from newsmen was emphatic that “Food and medical are essential even in the situation of war, as such food items, poultry and poultry feeds should not be restricted in the ongoing measures to contain the spread of the virus.
” As an Association of Poultry Producers, we are fully in support of the Federal government in all measures taken so far to improve the health and economy of the nation and to curtail the further spread of the deadly virus. We are in support of the closure of all the airports and land borders “.
” The approach of the federal and some state government is causing more panic than solving the situation. Some state governments are restricting movements within their States.
‘’The restriction of interstate movement of vehicles by various state Governments is to worsen the food and protein supply situation to Nigerian, especially that food is considered as very essential items for human health and survival.
‘’Many states government did not have the resources to pay people, or provide food for lockdown, as over 70 percent of Nigerians do not collect salary “, Ibrahim added.
He said ” the Poultry Famers have investment of over N3 trillion and locking down Nigeria will cause a lot of harm than good. Restriction of movement of foods, poultry feeds, and other food items will worsen the situation, as food is essential as drugs”
Ibrahim further stated ” most of the trucks carrying food and medications are not carrying people. Instead, we should intensify campaign through radio and traditional means of communication to enlighten the rural people than the panic approach which is more dangerous than the virus itself “.
He advised the Federal Government to trace the manifest of all those that travel from December to date to unveil themselves and their families and contacts for self-isolation and observation than to do things half hazard.
‘’The situation of the poultry producers market is not stable at the moment, and if urgent steps are not taken to remove the restrictions of vehicles convoying such critical poultry like Day old chicken, meat and egg, poultry feeds and drugs which are daily needed by Nigerians “, he added.
To this end, he urged the members of the poultry farmers association in the country to observe” Biosecurity” not only on their farms but in the entire poultry value chain.
‘’ So that the poultry industry might not be confronted with any other challenges of strange disease outbreak,’’ he said.
The national chairman also appealed to the government at all levels to consider the plight of the poultry farmers by relaxing the movement of vehicles regulation for all means of transportation carrying a day old chicken, eggs, poultry feeds, inputs and any other production inputs like maize and Soya beans for the continued production of poultry products, ‘’as poultry is food and therefore should be considered as essential items and services”, he stated.
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