The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has inaugurated a 33-member National Technical Working Group (TWG) to coordinate the control and eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats across Nigeria.
The initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to safeguard the country’s small ruminant population and strengthen the livestock sector against disease outbreaks.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, described PPR as one of the most devastating transboundary animal diseases affecting small ruminants in Nigeria and other endemic countries.
According to him, the disease goes beyond animal health challenges, posing serious threats to the livelihoods of pastoralists and smallholder farmers, undermining national food and nutrition security, and limiting trade in livestock and livestock products.
Maiha stressed that sheep and goats play a crucial socio-economic role, particularly for women, youths, and vulnerable rural households, as dependable sources of income, nutrition, and financial security.
“Controlling and ultimately eradicating PPR is not only a veterinary necessity but an economic, social, and developmental priority for our nation,” the minister said.
He added that the eradication of PPR aligns with Nigeria’s goals of economic diversification, poverty reduction, women and youth empowerment, and the expansion of regional and international livestock trade.
The minister urged members of the TWG to carry out their responsibilities with dedication and professionalism, assuring them of the Ministry’s full policy and institutional support.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, described the TWG as a critical platform for translating policy into action and ensuring that Nigeria’s PPR control programme remains technically sound, coordinated, and sustainable.
Represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Samuel Anzaku, Akujobi outlined the TWG’s mandate to include providing technical oversight for PPR prevention, control, and eradication; supporting the development and implementation of the National PPR Control and Eradication Roadmap; strengthening surveillance, vaccination, diagnostics, and data management systems; and enhancing collaboration among federal and state institutions, research bodies, the private sector, and development partners.
Earlier, the Head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, Dr. Michael Mitchell, said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen animal health systems and address PPR, which continues to threaten livestock production and rural livelihoods.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of research institutions, veterinary hospitals, development partners, livestock farmers, private sector operators, and other key stakeholders in the livestock value chain.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 Comments