The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats, as part of efforts to protect livelihoods, strengthen the livestock sector and enhance food security.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, made the commitment on Thursday in Abuja during a workshop to review and align the National Strategic Plan for the Control and Eradication of PPR in Nigeria.
The workshop was organised by the Pan African Secretariat for the Eradication of PPR, with funding from the European Union, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Akujobi said small ruminants remain a vital source of livelihood for millions of Nigerian households, making their protection a key priority under the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
She described PPR as one of the most economically devastating transboundary animal diseases affecting sheep and goats across Africa, Asia and parts of the Middle East.
According to her, the disease continues to threaten livelihoods, reduce household incomes and limit the growth of the livestock sector.
Akujobi noted that Nigeria’s large population of sheep and goats, coupled with extensive cross border livestock trade with Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad, makes the country’s efforts critical to the success of the livestock economy in West Africa.
She said effective control of the disease would help reduce poverty, improve livestock productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods and expand regional trade opportunities.
“This immense economic reality demands that our administrative and financial investments are guided by a modern, robust strategic framework,” she said.
Akujobi explained that the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development reflects the Federal Government’s determination to position the livestock sector as a major driver of food security, economic diversification, employment generation and rural development.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the global target, led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health, to eradicate PPR by 2030.
According to her, Nigeria has already implemented disease surveillance, laboratory strengthening, outbreak investigations, targeted vaccination campaigns, stakeholder engagement and capacity building programmes to reduce the burden of the disease.
She added that the interventions have also strengthened disease reporting and emergency response systems.
Akujobi, however, stressed that changing livestock production systems, increasing animal movements, evolving disease patterns and advances in disease control strategies make it necessary to periodically review the national strategy.
She said the workshop would assess progress made so far, identify existing gaps, incorporate emerging priorities and align Nigeria’s strategy with current regional and global frameworks.
“We recognise that disease eradication must be supported by strong surveillance systems, efficient reporting mechanisms, effective laboratory networks, adequate resource mobilisation, stakeholder ownership and sustained political commitment,” she said.
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