FG, FAO partner to control livestock diseases
The Federal Government has called on federal and state veterinary and epidemiology officers to strengthen surveillance, detection, and response systems against zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases that threaten animal health and pose serious socio-economic risks to humans.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the call in Abuja at the opening of a three-day training workshop on Good Emergency Management Practice in Animal Disease Detection.
The training was organized by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Alhaji Maiha described the livestock sector as a vital component of Nigeria’s food security, rural livelihoods, and public health system.
He, however, noted that the sector continues to face persistent challenges, particularly animal health-related threats, which require urgent and coordinated actions from all stakeholders to safeguard productivity and sustainability.
In his remarks, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, explained that the workshop was designed to build the technical capacity of veterinary and public health professionals to better anticipate, prevent, and respond to livestock disease outbreaks.
He added that the initiative aligns with global animal health standards set by the FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), and seeks to enhance coordination, risk assessment, and contingency planning within Nigeria’s veterinary public health system.
Representing the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, commended the organizers for the timely and strategic training, saying it would help promote best veterinary practices and strengthen national animal health services.
Country Team Lead of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Dr Otto Muhinda, reaffirmed FAO’s continued partnership with Nigeria in strengthening its livestock sector, describing livestock production as central to poverty reduction and economic growth across Africa.
The Head of the Force Animal Branch of the Nigeria Police Force, AIG Aishatu Abubakar, disclosed that the Police had established a Police Livestock Squad to help curb farmer-herder conflicts and protect livestock assets nationwide, adding that security collaboration remains crucial to achieving sustainable livestock development.
The training aims to build the capacity of veterinary and epidemiology officers to better detect, prevent, and respond to livestock disease outbreaks.
It also seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for animal health emergencies in line with global best practices and the One Health approach.
Editing by Adeniyi Bakare
