The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats, to protect rural livelihoods and strengthen national food security.
Speaking on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, announced that the ministry is updating its disease eradication framework to align with regional and global veterinary standards.
The policy review took place during an institutional workshop organised by the Pan-African Secretariat for the Eradication of PPR (PAPS).
Financed by the European Union, the collaborative session focused on updating the National Strategic Plan for the Control and Eradication of PPR in Nigeria.
Dr Akujobi explained that small ruminants serve as the primary economic safety net for millions of rural households, making their protection a priority for the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development.
The disease presents a severe transboundary threat due to Nigeria’s extensive commercial livestock trade with Niger, Benin, Cameroon, and Chad.
As an acute respiratory ailment, PPR reduces household incomes, threatens smallholder food security, and restricts cross-border trade opportunities.
To mitigate these economic losses, Nigeria has implemented targeted vaccination campaigns, laboratory expansion projects, and localised outbreak investigations.
However, changing livestock production models and increased animal migration across regional borders require a systematic update of the country’s containment protocols.
Nigeria remains aligned with the global target established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to eradicate the virus by 2030.
Dr Akujobi stated that the ministry will strengthen national surveillance systems, improve field reporting mechanisms, and expand veterinary laboratory networks to fast-track disease identification.
By reinforcing these bio-containment strategies, the government aims to increase livestock productivity, reduce rural poverty, and stabilise meat and dairy supply chains across the West African sub-region.
Source: NAN
Image Credit: Radio Nigeria
