Ogun Govt Cautions Pig Farmers On Swine Fever Outbreak

The Ogun State government has advised pig farmers in the state to ensure that they strictly adhere to the biometric measures in the best international practices so as not to be seen as raising false alarm on the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The government also ordered pig farmers in the state to be cautious of how they agitate for government’s intervention and involvement in the control of the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) which has allegedly destroyed their livestock to the tune of N5 billion across the state.

The commissioner for agriculture, Hon. Bola Owootomo,  spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend on Friday in response to enquiries on the steps being taken by the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration towards curtailing the further spread of the disease.

He said the ASF at the moment had no known vaccine that can cure it, saying its treatment required that pig farmers report any suspicion of the disease to the appropriate federal authorities after a confirmed laboratory test.

“I must tell you that there is no approved vaccine for its control and prevention. Its control at the moment requires reporting, laboratory confirmation and strict biometric measures by the farmers”.

The commissioner was apparently responding to the protest allegedly staged by pig farmers last Wednesday in the Ikangba axis of Odogbolu local government area where pig farmers alleged that their livestock worth over N5 billion had been lost to the disease.

Reacting to the protest and call for a government’s compensation, Owootomo said his ministry was already aware of the plight of the farmers adding that their associations needed to first make an onward report to the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, which  would collaborate with the states for possible production of new vaccines and sanitizer which the farmers can use to fumigate their farms.

He said, “We will get to them, but the affected farmers should make formal reports, visit relevant federal veterinary authorities in their neighbourhood for sample collection and diagnosis confirmation for a more committed response so that they’re not just seen on the pages of newspapers as protesting.

“Have they visited any veterinary hospitals? Have they carried out any test and what is the result of such any test? That is our position as government for now. Once there is no confirmation, the state cannot have any of the possible compensation”.

“So, we are using this opportunity to urge our farmers to adhere to strict biometric measures so that the disease can be curtailed”.