THE Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has expressed anger over the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards the outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country.This is coming from the backdrop of a report that over 2.7 million birds have been affected since its outbreak in 2015 and that one million birds were depopulated within one month in two farms in Kuje and Gwagwalada Local Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).The PAN Director-General, Onallo Akpa, who lamented that many of their members are running out of business and unable to pay back bank loans because their farms are being depopulated and compensations are not paid, said despite these losses by farmers, the government has not been paying adequate attention to the spread of the disease.He said aside depopulation of farms and compensation of farmers, there are no deliberate plans by the Federal Government to curb the disease, adding: “Let government put in place the proper frame-work and the farmers are ready to co-operate.Meanwhile, the Federal Government has decided to go tough on illegal poultry farms across the country following the ravaging Avian Influenza outbreak in 22 states, including the FCT.The Chief Veterinarian Officer of the Federation, Dr. Egejura Eze, who disclosed this during a sensitisation programme on the disease, also referred to as bird flu in Kuje and Gwagwalada local councils of the FCT at the weekend, said the government would not allow illegality and impunity to continue in the poultry industry as she bemoaned the riseof unregistered poultry farms by some people who by-pass the veterinarian officers in the states and local councils, but come forward to be compensated by the government for losses incurred duringan outbreak of bird flu.
