The Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP), has called on the Federal Government to pay more attention   to the enforcement of the ban on ford importation  into the country.

The National President of the Society, Professor C.F.I. Onwuka who said this at the society’s 38th Annual Conference/40th Anniversary at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, explained that, this has become  necessary as stringent measures are needed to revive Nigeria’s livestock industries.

“We need to note that, for  every cartoon of Turkey/Chicken  that we import, jobs are created  in their  countries of origin, their     GDPs are improved, while the reverse holds for Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the society has done well since its  Foundation in 1973″ Indeed with the benefit of hindsight, we have done well as  a society and as the foremost  Animal production society in Nigeria,” he said.

The varsity don also expressed the hope  that, the conference will contribute towards enhancing livestock production as well as bring transformation to the lives of Nigerians engaged in the sector.

While declaring the  conference opened, the Rivers State Governor Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi listed the achievements of the Government in the Agricultural sector to  include; the establishment of Songhai centre, establishment of fish farms across the state, the banana plantation, while Risonpalm has commenced full production.

The Governor who was represented by the commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chinda also said that, the  government is partnersing with the private sector to construct an Abattior in the State.

The vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Professor Barineme B. Fakae described the theme of the conference which is “Animal Agriculture:   A tool for sustainable Economic Transformation” as appropriate as availability of animal protein remains one of the major markers  of the level of agricultural  development in the country.

Professor Fakae said that it was in recognition of this, that the University in recent times partnered with the Rivers State government to  provide  a conducive  environment  for research in Animal  Science.

The Vice Chancellor said that  the university  has embarked on the deployment of ICT tools  to spearhead the new  face of education in the country.

He also expressed the hope that the conference will offer a good opportunity to reflect  on the peculiar problems  and challenges  of achieving  sustainable food security in the Niger Delta  in particular  and Nigeria at large.