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Quarantine agency decries inadequate funding, manpower to operate

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The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has expressed concern over inadequate manpower and funding to effectively carry out its operations.

Director, Animal Quarantine Dr Abiodun Akinjo,  stated this on Thursday in Abuja that the agency has only 30 veterinary officers among other personnel to man over 52 border posts across the country.

According to him, the number is grossly inadequate, and the gap is greatly impeding on the agency’s operations.

“There is urgent need for the appropriate authorities to come to the aid of the agency.

“We have over 52 border stations all over the country but we cannot meet up with the number because we have to seek for the approval to go ahead and employ more.

“Therefore, we have serious need for more veterinary doctors.

“We cannot adequately cover these areas but what we are doing at the moment is to make sure that every entry and exit points have at least a veterinary doctor and other personnel like animal husbandry and livestock development officers among others.

“However, there is need for veterinary doctors to oversee all these categories of officers which are not not also sufficient.

“We operate 24/7 services through morning, afternoon and night shifts, but to be able to do this effectively we need adequate manpower,” Akinjo said.

The director specifically cited a scenario where the Nigerian Immigration Service on opening new borders wrote to the agency requesting for equivalent personnel to man the areas.

Akinjo said that the agency was unable to meet the demand due to a lack of adequate manpower.

“Being a new agency, we are hopeful that the government will approve or give us consideration to employing more hands so that we can meet up with the challenges ahead of us, employment is very crucial.”

Akinjo appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize adequate budgetary allocation to the agency in order to procure standard equipment and official vehicles for its field workers.

“We should be funded properly which is key; adequate and timely provision of funds will  assist the agency to respond quickly,

 

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Lagos Women Run: Kit Collection Begins Tuesday

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Cyril Ogar

The collection of kits for the forthcoming 2026 Lagos Women Run starts on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Coordinator of the annual event, Tayo Popoola, who stated this stressed that all was set for the exercise.
Popoola explained that it was important to create enough time for this to ensure the event starts promptly on Saturday at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Time is 7.am.

“Registered participants have three days to collect their kits while those who prefer to wear their own kits can also do so on Saturday.

“We understand that some people might not have the chance and that is why we are flexible about this,” Popoola said.

The 10km run holds on November 14.

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