FG TO SUPPORT STATES IN NORTH EAST WITH FREE LIVESTOCK VACCINES

 

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar has said that Federal Government (FG) through the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services will support Gombe , and other States in the north east  with two million  Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccines among others. 

 The Minister said this in a press release made available after the flag off ceremony of 2022 Nationwide Free Mass Vaccination Campaign against Transboundary Animal Diseases in Dadinkowa, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, recently.

Being represented by the Director, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control and Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna Habib, the minister stated that livestock production was a major means of livelihood that employs about 70% of our population in food nutrition as means of  livelihood for majority at the rural areas.

Dr. Abubakar revealed that "the Ministry has policies and National programme for the control of these diseases" saying that it is our policy as a country to vaccinate against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza also known as Bird flu. 

He pointed out that "Nigeria’s livestock population is put at 22,378,374 Cattle; 53,061,143 Sheep; 99,879,799 Goats; 9,299,563 Pigs and over 425,790,456 Poultry, spread across the six Geopolitical Zones of the country, kept by majority of Nigerians especially in rural and semi-rural settings. 

The Minister urged development partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to key into this initiative by supporting the States with more vaccines and other logistics that are needed to carry out the mass vaccination in the country in collaboration with our neighboring countries.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said that this is the third time the exercise is being carried out under his administration and commended the ministry for its tireless efforts and commitment in ensuring the control of these animal diseases. 

 Earlier In his welcome address, the  State Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry , Hon. Muhammad Magaji said this is the first time the zonal vaccination of animals is being carried out with his state chosen as the flag-off point in the North-East.

In his remarks the Chairman Miytti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Gombe State Chapter, Mallam Madibbo Yahaya thanked the FG for the programme which was geared towards achieving increase in food production, generate more revenue for farmers as well as sustain the diversification in the Agricultural sector.