Poultry farmers in Aiyedoto Poultry Farm Estate in Lagos State have called on the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to urgently intervene in the plight of farmers affected by the avian influenza (bird flu) in 2021.
The farmers made the calls after receiving over 3,000 point of lay birds donated by the Lagos State government.
President of the farmers, Saliu Rasheed, said some of their members have died while awaiting intervention from the Federal Government, noting that compensation from the Federal Government to the affected farmers would strengthen the industry and guarantee employment opportunities for the population.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to hasten up the compensation process and also appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria to make more funds available to help grow the industry and, in turn, contribute to the gross domestic product of the country.
Rasheed thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the former commissioner of agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, for their support through the donation of over 3,000 point of lay birds.
One of the beneficiaries, Sussanah Okafor, said during the bird flu, a lot of farmers lost all their birds, and some of the affected farmers have died while awaiting compensation.
“Some have locked up their farms, which has continuously contributed to the high rate of unemployment in the country. We are appealing to the Federal Government to hasten up the payment of compensation as the farmers are finding it extremely difficult,” she said.