Bird flu: Kano farmers receive N100m compensation

Poultry farmers all over Nigeria now have cause to smile after the outbreak of bird flu on their farms, leading to the death of no fewer than 419,763 birds.

This was as the Minister of Agri­culture and Rural Devel­opment, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, announced a compensation package of N100,489,350 for all af­fected farmers in 15 lo­cal government areas in Kano State.

The minister, while speak­ing in Kano on Friday, said only three of the total number of farms had not been paid because they had no bank ac­count.

The minister said Nigerians should not panic, saying the Federal Government had been working hard to bring the situ­ation under control.

The number of birds so far depopulated and paid for in Kano State on account of bird flu has been put at 69,303.

Adesina said Kano State ap­peared to be top of the chart in mortalities and exposures since the onset of the latest bouts of outbreak.

On measures to bring the bird flu infection under control, Adesina assured that NVRI in Vom had done a lot and had been very helpful in diagnos­ing the problem.

The minister, who stressed the importance of the poultry industry, said: “Nigeria is the number one producer of egg in Africa. He expressed con­cern that Kano had the larg­est number of mortality rates in the bird flu outbreak, but said money had already been paid into the beneficiaries’ ac­counts.

Governor Kwankwaso, who on his part assured the minister of the state govern­ment’s cooperation, said: “We like to see the end of this crisis as soon as possible.”

Representing the benefi­ciaries of the compensation, the state Chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Aminu Adamu, commended the Federal Government, de­scribing it as a good move by the government.