By Dianabasi Effiong
A livestock farmer in Itam, Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu Mijiawa, has lauded the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) for prioritising the surveillance and control of Tsetse fly infestation in vector endemic areas of the State.
Mijiawa, who is the Chairman of the cattle farmers at a cattle domain in Itam, said this on Tuesday when the Ministry’s community sensitisation team, who are in Akwa Ibom to raise awareness in some markets to combat the hazardous effects of tsetse fly infestation in the state’s livestock industry, visited the area.
He said that the cattle farmers in the area were very happy about the intervention by the team from the FMLD, since it would reduce the cost of treatment for their livestock.
He said that though the cattle at the Itam domain were both for sale or for slaughter, and the cattle farmers did not really have areas for setting up tsetse fly traps as requested by the ministerial team, they had an outlet at Nwaniba where such intervention could be done.
He said, “I will call someone so that on getting there you will get access.”
The team, led by Mr Okoro Gilbert, was in the area as part of the nationwide flag-off of tsetse fly surveillance to combat the infestation and control of the vector in Akwa Ibom.
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the FMLD, Mrs Ikankeabasi Ukpong, had told the cattle farmers that the team had also chosen the Central Abbatoire, Itam, for the exercise.
She said, “We are from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development. We are coming to seek your permission concerning the field work we want to carry out in respect of tsetse fly attacks on your cattle. So this will help with intervention.”
Ukpong said that 12 species of tsetse fly had been identified in Nigeria, adding that of the identified groups of tsetse flies, the Glossina palpalis had been endemic in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
She said the team would visit tsetse flies endemic areas in Uyo, Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Mbo, and Oron Local Government Areas to ensure a successful surveillance to curb vector infestation in Akwa Ibom.
She said that the team would set up traps to harvest tsetse flies and carry out fumigation in the areas visited.