A move to outlaw the consumption and sale of dog meat in Akwa Ibom State has been decisively rejected by the state's lawmakers. The bill, which cited significant public health dangers, failed to advance during a recent plenary session.
Motion Collapses Without Support
The proposed legislation was sponsored by Honourable Uduak Ekpoufot, the member representing the Etinan State Constituency. He presented the bill on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Despite a detailed presentation outlining the risks, the motion met a swift end when no other member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly agreed to second it. According to the assembly's rules, a motion requires a seconder to proceed for debate. With none forthcoming, the Speaker declared the motion rejected.
Health and Humanitarian Concerns Cited
During his presentation, Hon. Ekpoufot argued passionately for the ban. He warned that poorly processed dog meat exposes consumers to dangerous pathogens like rabies, salmonella, and trichinella.
The lawmaker also highlighted the inhumane methods often used in slaughtering dogs, which include strangulation and blunt-force trauma. He stressed that the practice has been banned in several other countries due to these combined safety and ethical concerns.
Details of the plenary were shared on Facebook by Essien Ekefre Ndueso, the media aide to Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno.
Public Reaction and Broader Context
The rejection of the bill has sparked mixed reactions. Some social media commentators supported the lawmaker's public health arguments, questioning the necessity of consuming dog meat. Others criticized the focus of the assembly, suggesting lawmakers should concentrate on more pressing developmental issues.
This legislative debate occurs against a backdrop of renewed public discussion on dog meat in Nigeria. The topic gained national attention earlier when a viral video showed celebrity chef Hilda Baci offering influencer Enioluwa a dog meat sauce, which he refused. That incident had already drawn criticism from animal rights advocates.
For now, the sale and consumption of dog meat remains legal in Akwa Ibom State, as the assembly's refusal has halted the proposed ban in its tracks.
