Bird flu: No more compensation, FG tells farmers

The Federal Government has hinted of plans to suspend the payment of compensation to poultry farmers whose farms were infected by Avian Influenza (bird flu).

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sonny Echono confirmed this development on Wednesday at a meeting with stakeholders in the poultry industry at the ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The planned suspension, it was gathered was at the behest of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and State veterinary services, said to be carrying out bio-security and other containment measures.

Echono declared that the government has paid about N380 million to 138 farmers, while N643 million has also been committed as compensation to 246 poultry farmers thus far.

Read also: Bird flu makes comeback

In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Information, Mr. Tony Ohaeri, the permanent secretary said that N476 million was still required for the payment of compensation to the remaining 250 poultry farmers.

He attributed the new outbreaks between July and last month in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Abia, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to non-compliance to bio-security in farms, disregard to public policy on the sitting of poultry farms and other enforcement protocols which he said were expected to be implemented by the state veterinary services.

Echono urged poultry farmers to safeguard their investment through the adoption of insurance policy as a way forward since Federal Government now sees agriculture as a business.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now