Non-implementation of Planning Laws and Its Resultant Consequences as a Basis for Zoonotic Diseases Transmission among Urban Livestock Keepers in Potiskum Town, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the management strategies applied by livestock producers and its resultant consequences on the environment and as such a threat to public health emanating basically from small land holdings in some selected wards in Potiskum town. Coordinates of 25 dumpsites generated through livestock waste disposal were taken using handheld GPS. Buffer of 200 meters radius was created at each dumpsite points where livestock farmers were randomly selected for oral interview. The results show that most of the livestock farmers acquire their land by mode of inheritance where a household died and his or her landed asset was shared among his/her heirs. Majority of the respondent's views revealed that the sizes of their residential buildings where livestock were raised are less than a quarter plots with limited space for both human and animals. The study also revealed that there is direct closed association between human and animals due to small land holdings. The distance estimate between human habitat and that of livestock animals of the majority of the farmers is less than four meters (<4m). Findings shows that direct animals and human interaction has became a serious health issue as some symptoms of zoonotic diseases (cholera. abortion, diarrhea, typhoid and so on) has been reported among livestock farmers. Some of the effects include degradation of land, deterioration of structures and contamination of water, noise pollution and destruction of properties among others. Descriptive research design method was used for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as percentage computation, frequency distribution table, line and bar graph respectively