Nigerian gov't to compensate bird flu affected farmers

The Nigerian government has released 289.3 million naira (about 2.24 million U.S. dollars) to compensate 253 farmers whose flu-infected birds were killed in 17 states this year, official said on Wednesday.

Junaidu Maina, the executive director of Federal Livestock and Pest Control, said that the federal government released 161.5 million naira (1.25 million dollars) in previous compensations.

He reiterated the federal government's determination to ensure that the affected farmers return to their business.

Farmers affected by recent outbreaks of the disease in some parts of the country would also be paid when documentation procedures were completed.

Maina expressed federal government's determination to contain the flu and urged affected farmers to ensure that their farms were duly certified as free from the disease.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Khalil Bako said 28 cases of bird flu were recorded in the state this year.

Source: Xinhua