The Federal Government has commenced the training of epidemiological and veterinary public health officers nationwide to improve the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond promptly to animal disease outbreaks, which threaten livestock productivity and food security.

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), with support from the World Bank.

Speaking at the opening session in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated that the programme will equip officers with modern skills and technologies that enhance planning, surveillance, and outbreak reporting, aligning with global animal health standards.

“What is important in animal health is not just the investigation but the speed of reporting and response,” he said. 

“Once there is an outbreak in one state, other states are threatened. We must all operate on the same platforms to manage transboundary diseases and animal movement.”

The workshop, tagged “Good Emergency Management Practices in Animal Disease Response, Prevention and Control for Federal and State Epidemiology Officers in Nigeria”, reinforces an evidence-based global framework known as Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP).

Dr Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator for L-PRES, said the training strengthens Nigeria’s collective ability to anticipate, prevent, and contain animal health emergencies before they escalate.

He noted that GEMP emphasises intersectoral collaboration and integration of the One Health approach to protect both animal and human populations.

Abubakar added that the initiative aligns with standards set by FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), ensuring officers are better equipped to design and implement preparedness plans suited to Nigeria’s livestock system.

“This workshop addresses a long-standing knowledge gap and enhances technical capacity to safeguard our livestock and public health,” he said.

He explained that the partnership with FAO will enhance risk assessment, improve coordination, and support strategic contingency planning to ensure a stronger and more resilient livestock industry.

Source: NAN