The President of Poultry Association of Nigerian (PAN), Mr. Ezekiel
Ibrahim Mam has warned State Governors against inter-state vehicles
restrictions to prevent coronavirus from claiming more lives and
property.
According to him, we’re fully in support of federal government on all
measures taken to improve health and economy to curtail further spread
of virus.
Mam raised the alarm Friday; at a press conference held in Maiduguri
on the devastating impacts of various actions taken by States
Governors in the poultry industry.
He disclosed that restriction of inter-state movement of vehicles is
to worsen the food and protein supply situation in the country.
“The protein supply situation in Nigeria, particularly food items, is
considered essential for people’s health and survival since outbreak
of COVID-19,” he said.
While lamenting vehicles’ restrictions orders of Governors, he said:
“The situation of the poultry products market is not stable at the
moment and since outbreak of COVID-19.
He warned that if urgent measures are not taken to remove restriction
on vehicles’ movements; conveying poultry feeds and drug, meat, eggs
and day old chicks could be destroyed.
He noted that the poultry industry is becoming the mainstay of
country’s livestock industry.
According to him; “We’re trying to communicate on the relationship
between food producing companies and infrastructural sectors of
economy,” explaining that the two, are tightly connected in sustaining
the food supply chain.
He therefore, urged the governors to relax and make flexible rules on
restriction of vehicles’ movement across the country.
Continued: “The federal and state governments should adjust vehicles’
movements and allow trucks and buses carrying in and outbound supplies
of poultry products to operate, while preventing COVID-19.
He said that the free movements of vehicles will ensure the supply of
poultry products and food items.
“The trucks and buses must have means of identification to enable law
enforcement agencies to identify them easily,”
Speaking on poultry industry’s palliatives, he said: “We implore the
government to consider granting some palliatives to egg and day old
chicks’ producers.
He said members of PAN are unable to sell their chicks, eggs and feeds
as a result of the lockdown in some states of the federation.
According to Mam, the measures already taken by state governments on
vehicles’ restrictions are critical to national food security.
