Akwa Ibom Assembly Rejects Bid to Ban Dog-Meat Eating

Mr Uduak Ekpoufot

The Akwa Ibom State Assembly has turned down a proposal to stop the eating and selling of dog meat in the state.

The proposal, put forward today by Mr Uduak Ekpoufot, the member for Etinan, failed immediately because no other member was willing to formally back it (second the motion) during the main meeting.

Mr Ekpoufot had strongly argued that the practice was cruel due to the inhumane ways dogs are killed, such as strangling or repeated hitting, which causes great suffering. He also raised concerns about the dirty conditions and the serious danger to public health.

The politician warned that dog meat that hasn't been prepared properly puts people at risk of catching dangerous diseases like rabies, salmonella, and various parasites. He pointed out that many countries have already banned the practice because of these safety worries.

Despite his detailed arguments, the proposal could not move forward because it did not get a seconder, which is a strict rule of the Assembly. With no one else supporting it, the Speaker declared the proposal rejected.

This result means that nothing will change regarding the eating of dog meat in Akwa Ibom State for the time being, even though the member had called for better public health and the humane treatment of animals.