In a bid to ensure the consumption of safe and healthy livestock, Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo on Tuesday flagged off the Private Veterinary Practice Programme (PVP) in the State.
Governor Ododo, while speaking at the flag off ceremony at the Glass House, Government House Lokoja urged critical stakeholders in the Agriculture sector to work together to ensure that the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project L-PRES succeed in the State.
Livestock farming plays a critical role in our strategy to ensure food security in the State and drive industrialization. I pledge our full cooperation with all stakeholders in the food value chain to achieve large scale livestock farming in Kogi State. We are prepared to implement the necessary legal and administrative framework and affirm to eliminate any obstacle that hinders investments in this vital sector.
Gov. Ododo extended his gratitude to the World Bank team for the support especially the establishment of Livestock Service Centre in the State, saying the State is committed to taking full advantage of the project for the benefit of the people.
This Project, we are all Coordinators. We will see to the success of this project. Let me at this point warn those people at the helm of affairs in the State, this is not going to be a project that we will play with. Because for the past four to five months, I have seen the role that L-PRES has played in the lives of our people.
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Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, Executive Governor of Kogi State having a discussion with the L-PRES World Bank Team
On his part, the Task Team Leader, L-PRES Project, World Bank, Dr. Manievel Sene who led a delegation of the Project to the State on Mission said the implementation of the Project in Kogi is currently on track.
Dr. Sene urged the State Implementation Committee as well as leadership of the Project in the State to work assiduously to ensure that the project have impact in the lives of the people.
According to him, a Strategic plan has been developed for the project and it counts on Veterinarians in the State to ensure the success.
In a remark, Mr. Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator L-PRES Project noted that Kogi is taking the lead in the implementation of the project in the Country.
While enumerating the importance of the Private Veterinary Practice (PVP) Programme, Mr. Sanusi described the programme as a calculated attempt to strengthen Veterinary practice in the State.
Mr. Sanusi explained that the involvement of Private Veterinarians in the L-PRES is because out of the over 11,000 Veterinary Doctors in Nigeria only 15% of them work with government.
“Disease prevention, control and eradication in the country are placed in the Exclusive and Concurrent list. This implies that both State and Federal Governments have responsibilities in this regard. Therefore services such as vaccination, disease surveillance, treatment of disease, outbreak response etc should be rendered in both urban and rural areas.
He emphasized that the Project is keen on ensuring value for money, hence the need to ensure strict compliance with implementation strategy, adequate documentation of all transactions, correspondence and transparency in all expenditures.
The National Project Coordinator added that if properly implemented the project will revolutionalize veterinary service delivery, value chain development and enhance food security in the State.
Dr. Omotugba Samuel Tolu, Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Kogi State Chapter appreciates the Governor for his contribution and support to the livestock farming in Kogi State.
As part of the commitment of L-PRES for the Project, a Hilux vehicle, 20 Motorcycles and Consumables were provided for the Private Veterinary Doctors.
