Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development  Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has challenged veterinary personnel within the Nigerian Police Force to play a more active role in protecting the country’s livestock economy, to scale up disease surveillance and support vaccination efforts while helping to prevent farmer-herder conflicts.

The honourable made this appeal during the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) for veterinary officers and paraprofessionals working in the police force.

Addressing the participants, the minister commended the strategic deployment of veterinary professionals within the force, emphasising that their nationwide deployment gives them a unique advantage in detecting disease outbreaks early and responding swiftly to livestock-related crises.

“With more than 80 veterinarians and over 70 veterinary paraprofessionals within the Nigerian Police Force, you represent one of the most strategically positioned teams in the country,” Maiha said. 

“Your boots are already on the ground in every state. I urge you to use that presence to strengthen disease surveillance, support vaccination campaigns, and intervene early where tensions between farmers and herders begin to surface. Your contribution is vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s livestock sector and securing our national food system.”

Highlighting the critical need to contain transboundary animal diseases, the minister also instructed the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON) to fully integrate police veterinary units into ongoing national vaccination and disease surveillance campaigns.

Representing the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General Aishatu Baju Abubakar, mni, praised the minister’s leadership and acknowledged support from L-PRES in advancing livestock security and veterinary capacity.

The CVON, Dr Samuel Anzaku, outlined the country’s intensified efforts to tackle rabies, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other priority animal health threats, adding that sustained collaboration is essential to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and national food security.

Delivering welcome remarks on behalf of the National Project Coordinator, Dr Mustapha Mohammad, urged participants to strengthen interagency cooperation and ensure the protection of all L-PRES-supported infrastructure nationwide.

Source: FMLD