Daniel Adaji
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have agreed on a $350,000 emergency intervention to strengthen animal health systems and contain the spread of bird flu across the country.
The agreement was reached during a strategic meeting held on March 11, 2026 in Abuja between the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the FAO Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Hussein Gadain, alongside senior officials from both institutions.
Under the arrangement, FAO approved an emergency Technical Cooperation Programme valued at $350,000 to support Nigeria’s response to the ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.
The intervention will target disease containment efforts in 11 affected states and strengthen surveillance, coordination, and response mechanisms to prevent further spread.
Speaking during the meeting, Maiha stressed that controlling livestock diseases remains critical to boosting productivity and protecting farmers’ livelihoods across Nigeria.
“We must continue to strengthen our animal health systems and build the capacity required to respond effectively to disease outbreaks. Our collaboration with FAO will help protect livestock assets, improve productivity, and support the broader transformation of the sector,” the minister said.
He noted that factors such as drought, feed scarcity, interaction between livestock and wildlife, and cross-border movement of animals have contributed to the spread of diseases in several parts of the country.
FAO’s Gadain commended the Federal Government’s commitment to developing the livestock sector, noting that stronger veterinary services and early disease detection systems are essential to tackling livestock diseases.
He emphasised the need to improve biosecurity practices among livestock farmers and strengthen veterinary services at both state and community levels.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the global campaign to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats. To advance the initiative, the ministry plans to convene a national technical meeting involving veterinary institutions, researchers, and practitioners to review Nigeria’s eradication strategy and address gaps in vaccine supply.
As part of preparations, the ministry will engage the National Veterinary Research Institute to assess its vaccine production capacity while exploring additional procurement options to meet national demand.
Both sides also agreed to accelerate Nigeria’s access to financing under the Pandemic Fund through a One Health approach, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health, to strengthen preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases.
The meeting further discussed preparations for the Antimicrobial Resistance Conference scheduled for June 2026 in Abuja, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to be recognised as the African Champion for PPR eradication.
In addition, the partners agreed to inaugurate a Livestock Donor Working Group to coordinate development partner support and drive key initiatives, including the development of a national feed and fodder strategy to boost productivity and sustainability in Nigeria’s livestock sector.
