The Oyo State Government has sealed no fewer than 15 veterinary outlets and confiscated animal health products worth millions of naira, following their failure to comply with the provisions of the state’s Private Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment (Regulation) Law, 2017.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, on Tuesday.

According to the commissioner, the enforcement exercise was carried out after routine monitoring and inspection within the Ibadan metropolis revealed that the affected veterinary outlets were operating illegally without the mandatory registration of their premises with the state government.

Speaking through the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Olaoye Olakunle, Olaleye explained that the state government was left with no option but to take decisive action in the interest of public health, animal welfare, and food safety.

He stated that; “Under the Veterinary Premises and Veterinary Establishment (Regulation) Law of 2017, all veterinary practitioners and premises operating within Oyo State are required to register annually with the Ministry of Agriculture. This law was put in place to enable proper monitoring, curb the spread of zoonotic diseases, and eliminate the growing trend of quackery within the veterinary sector.”

The commissioner noted that the sealed outlets failed to comply with this legal requirement, thereby putting both animal and human health at serious risk. He reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing existing regulations in order to maintain professional standards within the veterinary field.

Olaleye further warned that the enforcement exercise would be sustained and intensified across all zones of the state, until full compliance is achieved. He added that veterinary practitioners found violating the law would not only have their premises sealed but would also be prosecuted in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.

He urged all private veterinary practitioners to ensure that their premises are duly registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as stipulated by law, in order to avoid disruption of their business operations and legal consequences.

The enforcement operation was carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders in the veterinary profession, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. John Famoyin, and the President of the Association of Private Veterinary Medical Practitioners, Dr. Awoyele Adebayo.

The team also included other officials from the state veterinary services department, who jointly oversaw the sealing of the illegal premises and the confiscation of unregistered or expired products.

The state government said it remains committed to ensuring a clean, safe, and professionally regulated veterinary environment that guarantees public safety and food security.