The Lagos State House of Assembly is deliberating on a bill to bar residents from owning wild animals like lions, snakes and others, The PUNCH has learnt.
The proposed law is known as ‘A Bill for Law to Regulate Ownership, Licensing, Care and Sale of Pets and Prohibit or Restrict Persons from Having Custody of Animals Dangerous to the Public and Where Permitted to License, Control and Regulate the Custody of Such Animals and for Other Connected Purposes.’
According to a document sighted by The PUNCH, the public hearing for the bill held on December 17, 2020, and it was chaired by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Mr Kehinde Joseph.
The bill, which promotes animal rights and protects sales of animals, also prescribes hefty fines and jail terms for persons who flout the law.
The proposed law comes a year after an Indian citizen residing in Lagos was found to have harboured a lion in his private residence located opposite a primary school and a crèche.
The Lagos State Government stormed the house in Victoria Island, tranquilised and evacuated the animal to Omu Resorts Zoo in Lekki.
The Indian who owned the lion was, however, not arrested.
Punchng.com
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