Consumers of dog meat may still be enjoying their delicacy in Akwa Ibom State as the state House of Assembly has rejected a motion seeking to discontinue the consumption and sale of the commodity in the state.
The motion, sponsored by the member representing Etinan State Constituency, Hon. Uduak Ekpoufot, failed to progress during plenary after it received no seconder, a key requirement for any motion to be debated.
Hon. Ekpoufot, while presenting the motion, raised serious concerns over the continued slaughter and consumption of dog meat in the state. He described the practice as inhumane, citing the cruel methods often used to kill dogs, including strangulation and repeated blows, which he said result in extreme animal suffering. He argued that the issue goes beyond culture or preference, stressing that it poses significant public-health risks.
The lawmaker highlighted reports of unhygienic slaughter environments and poor processing methods, which he said expose consumers to dangerous pathogens. He listed rabies, salmonella, trichinella and other parasites as major threats linked to dog-meat consumption, warning that the practice has been banned in several countries due to these safety concerns. According to him, the health implications were serious enough to warrant urgent legislative action.
Despite the weight of the arguments, no other lawmaker supported the motion, leading to its automatic collapse.
The Speaker consequently declared the motion rejected, signalling that the House was not ready to entertain a debate on banning dog meat at this time.
With the development, Akwa Ibom State will maintain its current stance on dog-meat consumption. The rejection also means that existing practices—whether cultural, commercial or otherwise—will continue uninterrupted.
Hon. Ekpoufot, however, maintained that his intention was to safeguard public health and ensure humane treatment of animals, adding that he hopes the House will reconsider the issue in the future as awareness grows.
