Executive Summary

While Nigeria does not have stand-alone legislation regarding animal welfare, the Nigeria Criminal Code does include many prohibitions regarding animal cruelty, and the wording suggests some acknowledgment that animals can suffer both physically and mentally. Nigeria produced the Nigerian Animal Welfare Strategy in 2016 and this document is forming the basis of revisions to legislation. Similarly, the Criminal Code (1990) provides specific protections for some categories of animals, such as those used for draught purposes for whom it is prohibited to overload or overwork, and a national ban on animal fights. The Animal Disease (Control) Act (2004) provides some additional protections for farm animals including limiting stocking density during transportation to ensure adequate ventilation.

However, it is concerning that there is no singular act to prevent animal cruelty or to promote animal welfare in Nigerian legislation. Particularly wild animals – both in the wild and in captivity – and animals used in scientific experimentation are vulnerable to abuse due to a lack of legislation. While the National Institute of Animal Science has a mandate to ensure a high quality of meat is produced, there is no reflection on the importance of animal welfare in producing high quality meat. Also of concern, is the existence of the dog meat trade in some parts of Nigeria which is a risk to both animal and human health given the prevalence of rabies in the country.

Responsibility for animal welfare is assigned to the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ministry also has a national OIE focal point for Animal welfare who is the Head of the Animal Welfare Branch and handles animal welfare issues under the supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria who is the OIE delegate on Animal Health and Animal welfare.

Since the 2014 edition of the Animal Protection Index, the Government of Nigeria has made some progress in improving animal welfare in the country through the development of the Nigerian Animal Welfare Strategy (2016) and revising of existing legislation, however many of these changes are yet to be enacted.

The Government of Nigeria is encouraged to introduce an independent Animal Welfare Act that includes a definition of animal welfare, in line with the OIE and explicitly promoting the Five Freedoms. The Government of Nigeria is also urged to enact legislation detailing specific welfare requirements for the rearing of farm animals during the phases of rearing, transport and slaughter. Such requirements should be legally binding and species-specific. Regular inspections onto farms and slaughter establishments should be carried out with a special focus on animal welfare. Further legal and policy recommendations are associated with each Animal Protection Index (API) indicator and contained in the relevant sections of this report.