Uyo – The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday rejected a motion brought by Hon. Uduak Ekpoufot, the member representing Etinan State Constituency, which sought to discontinue the consumption and sale of dog meat in the state. The motion failed to progress after it received no seconder, a mandatory requirement under House rules, and was declared rejected by the Speaker.
Hon. Ekpoufot raised strong concerns over the inhumane slaughter of dogs, describing methods that include strangulation, blunt-force trauma and repeated blows, which he said cause severe animal suffering. He warned that poorly processed dog meat could expose consumers to dangerous pathogens such as rabies, salmonella, trichinella and other parasites, noting that several countries have banned the practice for safety reasons.
“The methods used to kill dogs were cruel, often involving strangulation, blunt-force trauma, or repeated blows, leading to severe animal suffering,” Ekpoufot said. He added that “poorly processed dog meat exposes consumers to dangerous pathogens such as rabies, salmonella, trichinella and other parasites, stressing that the practice has been banned in several countries due to safety concerns.”
Because the motion lacked a seconder, it automatically collapsed and the Speaker declared it rejected. The outcome means Akwa Ibom will maintain the status quo on dog‑meat consumption for the foreseeable future, despite the lawmaker’s call for improved public‑health standards and humane treatment of animals.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the cultural tradition and others expressing disappointment over the lack of legislative action on animal welfare and health risks.
