The federal government has inaugurated a 33-member National Technical Working Group (TWG) on the control and eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
This highly contagious disease continues to pose a significant threat to livestock production and rural livelihoods.
The TWG was inaugurated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Abuja by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who described PPR as one of the most destructive transboundary animal diseases affecting sheep and goats in Nigeria and other endemic regions.
Maiha noted that the impact of PPR goes far beyond animal health, warning that the disease undermines food and nutrition security, disrupts livestock trade, and erodes the livelihoods of pastoralists and smallholder farmers.
He stressed that small ruminants play a particularly critical role for women, youth, and vulnerable rural households, serving as accessible assets for income generation, nutrition, and financial security.
“Controlling and ultimately eradicating PPR is not only a veterinary necessity, but an economic, social and developmental priority for Nigeria,” the Minister said.
According to him, eliminating PPR will support economic diversification, reduce poverty, empower women and young people, and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional and international livestock markets.
He urged members of the TWG to approach their task with professionalism and commitment, assuring them of full policy and institutional support from the Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, described the TWG as a vital platform for translating policy into practical action.
Represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, she outlined the group’s mandate to provide technical oversight for PPR prevention and eradication, support the implementation of the National PPR Control and Eradication Roadmap, and strengthen surveillance, vaccination, diagnostics, and data management systems.
The TWG is also expected to promote effective coordination among federal and state agencies, research institutions, the private sector, development partners, and livestock farmers to ensure a harmonised and sustainable national response.
Earlier, the Head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, Dr Michael Alao Mitchell, described the inauguration as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen animal health systems and safeguard rural livelihoods from preventable livestock diseases.
The event brought together stakeholders from research institutions, veterinary hospitals, livestock farmer groups, development partners, and the private sector, signalling a broad-based commitment to protecting Nigeria’s livestock economy.
Source: FMLD
