TIME FOR CHANGE?: THE PRESENT STATE OF VETERINARY SERVICES IN NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA AND OPTIQNS FOR THE FUTURE

Abstract

This study evaluated the present state of veterinary services in North-western Nigeria comprising Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. A survey conducted in the area between 1996 and 1997 revealed that veterinary services were dominated by the state governments working through their ministries of agriculture. Donor-assisted projects such as the Zamfara Environmental Protection Agency and the Second Pilot Livestock Development Project also provided veterinary services in the area. Other veterinary services providers included the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services, the National Veterinary Research Institute, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine' ofU smanu Danfodiyo University, the local governments, the weekly market drug sellers and drug stores. Results show that veterinary services provided by most of these agencies, particularly those funded by governments, have become skeletal or in some cases non-existent. This sorry state of veterinary services was attributed to poor funding. To improve funding and the effectiveness of veterinary services, it was suggested that governments should consider introducing full cost-recovery in their services and should ultimately aim at privatizing some of the veterinary functions. To mitigate the current shortage of veterinary personnel in the area, it was also suggested that governments should encourage the training of more veterinary personnel.