How federal government assisted Southsouth with 1.8 million animal vaccines

By Adeleye Kunle

To combat the spread of trans-boundary diseases in Nigeria, the Federal Government has provided over 1.8 million animal vaccines to Edo State and other South-South states, TrackNews reports.

Mohammad Abubakar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated this at the launch of the 2022 Nationwide Free Mass Vaccination Campaign against Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in Benin, Edo State.

TADs such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and Newcastle Disease (ND) were affecting the livestock population, according to Abubakar, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ernest Umakhihe.

He stated that animals should be adequately immunized in order to achieve the desired herd immunity for prevention, control, and possibly eradication.

According to him, livestock production was a major source of income in Nigeria, employing approximately 70% of the country’s population, providing food nutrition and security, and providing a source of income for the majority of rural dwellers.

The minister stated that the ministry has policies and national programs in place to combat these diseases, and that routine vaccination for all diseases is the ministry’s policy.

“It is our policy as a country not to vaccinate against highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as Bird flu,” he stated. Over the years, Nigeria’s CBPP, FMD, PPR, and ND control policy has been routine annual vaccination; however, vaccination coverage has been limited due to insufficient resources. However, as more resources become available, we intend to increase vaccination coverage.”

The minister urged development partners and non-governmental organizations to join the initiative by providing more vaccines and the logistics needed to carry out the country’s mass vaccination.