The Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Osun State branch, Dr. Oluseyi Kolawole, has urged pet owners to register their animals with veterinary clinics to aid proper data collection and strengthen animal health planning in Nigeria.
Kolawole made the call on Wednesday in Ede during a symposium to mark the 2025 World Rabies Day, organised by veterinary doctors in the state.
He stressed that accurate animal data is crucial to disease prevention and control, particularly rabies, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes as the deadliest disease globally, killing one person every nine minutes.
“There is a policy perspective to this data matter. If we abide by existing policies, it will assist us in generating the data we need. My advice for animal owners is that they should make sure their animals are registered with a veterinary clinic. Prevention is better, cheaper, and safer than a cure,” Kolawole said.
He further urged Nigerians to vaccinate their pets, warning that protecting animal health directly safeguards human health.
Also speaking, the Director of Veterinary Services in the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Abosede Olatokun, called for the introduction of compulsory pet licensing.
“There should be animal licensing. Each dog and other pets must have a license. We are pushing for it and we believe that the government will listen to us. This will help in disease control,” she said.
World Rabies Day is observed annually to raise awareness on the impact of the zoonotic disease on humans and animals. It is supported by international health bodies including WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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