The President of the Poultry Association of Nigerian (PAN), Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim Mam, has warned state governors against restriction on inter-state distribution of foods, including eggs and chickens. He sounded the warning during a press conference in Maiduguri, saying such a move would lead to devastating impacts on food availability for already stressed Nigerians. It would also negatively affect the poultry industry, which is about the only sustainable livestock subsector in the country.

He said: “The restrictions oo inter-state movement of vehicles by the various state governments will worsen the food and protein supply situation for Nigerians, especially when ‘food’ is considered as very essential items for human health and survival. The situation of the poultry products market is not stable at the moment, and if urgent steps are not taken to remove the restriction on the movement of vehicles conveying such critical poultry products like Day-Old-Chicks (DOCs), meat and eggs, poultry feeds and drugs, which are daily needed by all Nigerians, the poultry industry, which is on the path to becoming the mainstay of the Nigerian livestock industry, might be completely destroyed.

“We are trying to communicate on the relationship between food producing companies and infrastructural sectors of economy.”

He explained that the two are required to sustain the food supply chains, and therefore urged the governors to relax rules on restriction of movement of foods across the country while the lockdown lasts.

“The federal and state governments should adjust vehicles’ movement and allow trucks and buses carrying in and out-bound supplies of poultry products to operate, while preventing COVID-19,” he added. Guardian