The Federal Government has hosted a monitoring and evaluation delegation from the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) to assess Nigeria’s progress toward eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030.
Speaking at the opening of the mission in Abuja on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, stated that Nigeria will retain its original 2030 target date despite the extension of global eradication timelines to 2040.
Supported by the European Union, the AU-IBAR mission is evaluating Nigeria’s National Strategic Plan for PPR eradication, reviewing state veterinary infrastructure, and identifying gaps across regional livestock corridors.
PPR, an acute viral disease affecting sheep and goats, causes significant economic losses to rural households where small ruminants provide basic income security.
Minister Maiha emphasised that establishing a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development reflects federal policy to convert animal husbandry into a driver of food security and economic diversification.
The Minister disclosed that the federal government is rehabilitating a facility at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to support domestic vaccine manufacturing.
Equipment acquired from original equipment manufacturers will allow the upgraded plant to produce over 100 million PPR vaccine doses annually, serving both domestic requirements and West African regional supply lines.
Additionally, 20 Nigerian states have established dedicated livestock agencies to streamline coordination between federal authorities and sub-national governments.
Institutional support for the initiative includes a continent-wide 437 million dollar African Union PPR program. AU-IBAR Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Ibrahim Cherno Jagne, noted that Nigeria holds a critical position in regional disease control due to its large small-ruminant population and extensive border trade with neighbouring states.
AU-IBAR West Africa Coordinator, Dr Perdita Hilary Lopes, added that Nigeria’s success in deploying risk-based vaccination, cold chain storage, and quarantine posts will directly influence West Africa’s progress toward complete PPR eradication.
Source: FMLD
