The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to develop and coordinate strategies aimed at curbing the spread of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) across Nigeria.
The group was inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who described the disease as a persistent threat to Nigeria’s livestock sector and broader economy.
Maiha said CBPP remains endemic in the country, undermining efforts to build a productive, resilient, and globally competitive livestock industry.
“Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia remains endemic in Nigeria and continues to challenge our aspirations for a productive, resilient, and globally competitive livestock sector,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, the minister noted that Nigeria’s cattle population—estimated at about 54.5 million—places a significant responsibility on authorities to effectively manage animal health risks.
He disclosed that recent data underscores the urgency of intervention, revealing that at least 17 states have reported outbreaks of CBPP, cutting across all six geopolitical zones.
“A total of 131 outbreaks of CBPP have officially been documented in Nigeria, and these figures represent only a portion of the true burden, given limitations in surveillance coverage, reporting compliance, and diagnostic confirmation,” Maiha stated.
According to him, the persistence of the disease is driven by factors such as uncontrolled livestock movement along transhumance routes, inadequate vaccination coverage, and weaknesses in early detection and response systems.
“If left unchecked, these factors will continue to enable silent transmission, periodic outbreaks, and sustained economic losses to livestock owners and the broader national economy,” he warned.
He added that the impact of CBPP extends beyond animal health, affecting food security, rural livelihoods, and Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and international livestock markets.
Maiha explained that the newly inaugurated Technical Working Group is designed to serve as a high-level platform to drive a coordinated and result-oriented response, rather than function as a routine committee.
“This is not intended to be another routine committee, but a focused, high-level technical platform that will provide the strategic direction required to change the trajectory of CBPP in Nigeria,” he said.
He said the group is expected to guide the development of a coherent national control framework, strengthen surveillance systems, improve vaccination programmes, and modernise diagnostic capabilities.
The minister also stressed the importance of engaging livestock owners and other stakeholders, noting that their cooperation is critical to the success of disease control measures.
“Sustainable progress will depend on stronger coordination across federal and state structures, closer collaboration with the private sector, and deeper engagements with regional and international partners,” he said, adding that government efforts alone would not be sufficient.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, described CBPP as a major challenge for livestock farmers and the agricultural sector at large.
“Through this Technical Working Group, we are hopeful to leverage experience and collaborate to develop strategies to control, prevent and eventually eradicate this disease,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the World Health Organization Country Representative, Dr. Laximikant Chavan, called for strengthened surveillance and alignment of CBPP monitoring efforts with national frameworks.
He pledged the organisation’s support to the ministry in addressing the disease burden in Nigeria.
Other stakeholders, including representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nigeria Veterinary Association, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the Butchers’ Association, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and the World Organisation for Animal Health, also expressed support for the initiative.
