Govt distributes vaccines to tackle livestock disease
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, says the Federal Government has distributed 3.9 million doses of the Peste des Petits Ruminants vaccine and 7.7 million doses of the Newcastle Disease vaccine to rural communities in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kano states over the last five years.
This was as he acknowledged the government’s shortcomings in effectively achieving food security across the country.
The minister said despite concrete efforts, “the work of the ministry in terms of food security is far from over,” underscoring the need for continued focus, policy adjustments, and strategic interventions to address the ongoing challenges in the sector.
He disclosed this at the official close-out meeting on the European Union Support to Livestock Disease surveillance knowledge integration project in Abuja, according to a statement by the Union on Friday.
The rising cost of food has been a significant concern for many households. The high price caused by supply chain disruptions and rising transportation costs is a major contributor to the country’s headline inflation rate of 32.70 per cent, placing additional pressure on consumers and increasing the overall cost of living.
The government, to stem the tide, has outlined policies, including the zero tax import duty on certain food items to reduce food prices, all to no avail.
But the minister, speaking in his address, said the government will continue to implement strategies to achieve a food-secure nation where agriculture serves as a pillar of economic stability and the foundation for improved nutrition and health for all Nigerians.
Aliyu, represented by his special assistant, Aminu Oluwafisayo, expressed that the collective efforts of LIDISKI and other partners in the sector have not only strengthened the animal health system but have also ensured that the agricultural systems of the country are capable of meeting the nutritional needs of the growing population.
He said, “Your collective efforts have not only strengthened the animal health system, but also key in supporting the renewable agenda by ensuring that our agricultural systems are resilient, productive, and capable of meeting the nutritional needs of our growing population.”
Also speaking on the collective efforts of LIDISKI to combat and prevent the spread of the Newcastle disease in livestock to produce sustainable and secure foods, the Minister stated that “together, we have deepened our understanding of Newcastle disease and developed effective strategies for their control and prevention, of emphasis on the development of guidelines and protocols for disease control and management.”
“Enhancement of disease detection and reporting capabilities of food surveillance officers, particularly in cattle, plant food, and poultry streams, and capacity building for veterinary services, delivery, and livestock stakeholders, among others.”
“These efforts directly contribute to the President’s mission of building a food-secure nation where agricultural service is a pillar of economic stability and the foundation for improved nutrition and health for all Nigerians. While today marks an important milestone, we acknowledge that our journey on food security is far from over,” he stated.
Aliyu also expressed that the path ahead calls for continued collaboration, innovation, and sustained effort to support food security, enhance livestock health, and create sustainable agricultural practices that benefit all Nigerians.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to the goal of the renewable agenda; we seek to empower all farmers to ensure access to safe and nutritious food and build a more resilient and prosperous Nigeria.”
“With our continued partnership, we are well on our way to achieving these goals and transforming our agricultural landscape for the better; as we continue this journey together, may we be guided by wisdom, unity, and a shared purpose,” he stated.
Similarly, the head of human development, delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Leila Mathieu, who was represented virtually by Temitayo Omole, stated that the purpose of the intervention has been to support the Nigerian Government in its efforts at combating animal diseases affecting the economic well-being of herders and farmers in rural communities.
“The idea behind the program was to take science to the field, increase the capacity of the institutions of government responsible for fighting animal diseases and other infections.”
“In this case, the National Veterinary Research Institute, became our primary interlocutor while the economic dimension of the program was anchored by a Nigerian agency called Ikore.”
Mathieu further reiterated that the European Union and its member states continue to be reliable partners in helping, supporting, and facilitating steps to overcome social, economic, and technical problems.
“It is our sincere hope that the various government entities present here today, including those who have been part of the implementation of this intervention, would go away with the needed influence to translate our broad reflections and lessons into actionable policies backed by budgetary, technical, and human support to deliver the full objectives of completely eradicating new cases and pests in Nigeria and the region,” he said.
The event marked the conclusion of a five-year initiative aimed at enhancing surveillance and control of two critical livestock diseases, Peste des petits ruminants and Newcastle Disease across Nigeria.
The project’s primary objective was to improve surveillance and control for PPR and ND, diseases that have long posed significant risks to livestock health and productivity in the region.
The project, reaching 222,000 smallholder farmers across three states, made substantial progress in disease surveillance, with nearly 1,830 small ruminants suspected of PPR and 861 poultry suspected of ND reported to the State Veterinary Service. Also, 2.25 million vaccines were distributed.
