FG Launches Major Livestock Vaccination Drive in Yobe to Tackle Deadly Cattle Disease

Efforts to strengthen animal health and protect pastoral livelihoods gained fresh momentum in Yobe State as the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development launched a vaccination exercise targeting 2,500 livestock against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).

The campaign was officially inaugurated in Damaturu by Dr Mitchell Alao, Director of Animal Health and Reproductive Services at the ministry, with implementation support from Astute Synergy Limited. The initiative marks another step in the federal government’s push to curb trans-boundary animal diseases that continue to threaten Nigeria’s cattle industry.

CBPP, Alao explained, remains one of the most economically devastating diseases affecting cattle across the country. He noted that for years it has undermined sustainable livestock development, reducing productivity, causing high mortality and inflicting severe financial losses on pastoralists and cattle farmers. These challenges, he added, ripple through rural livelihoods and national food systems, directly contradicting the economic growth goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Alao, the vaccination exercise is a strategic intervention aligned with the ministry’s mandate to strengthen animal health systems, expand disease surveillance and improve access to preventive veterinary services. By tackling the disease at the community level, he said, the programme lays the groundwork for healthier herds, better productivity and a reduced disease burden across livestock-producing areas.

He praised the Yobe State Veterinary Services, livestock associations, development partners and technical teams for their commitment to the programme, while urging field veterinarians to strictly follow vaccination protocols, maintain accurate records and sustain engagement with livestock owners to ensure lasting impact.

The Yobe State Government welcomed the intervention, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Livestock Development, Dr Idris Madaki, expressing appreciation for the federal support. Represented by Dr Bulama Yaro, Manager of the State Pilot Livestock Development Programme, Madaki said the vaccines would significantly boost animal production in the state, while appealing for additional supplies to cover Yobe’s vast cattle population, estimated at over 10 million.

Leaders of cattle breeders also applauded the initiative. Mohammed Ngordi, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Damaturu Local Government, commended both the federal and state governments for their continued support, describing the vaccination drive as a critical lifeline for cattle breeders across the state.