FG Pushes for Stronger West African Alliance to Defeat Transboundary Livestock Diseases

Nigeria is stepping up its campaign for a united regional front against transboundary livestock diseases, urging West African countries to adopt a more coordinated and intelligence-driven approach to protect rural livelihoods and safeguard the livestock economy.

Source: businessday

At a regional training programme in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Chinyere Akujobi, stressed that diseases such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) continue to weaken value chains, disrupt trade, and undermine food security for millions who depend on sheep and goats for income and nutrition.

Akujobi reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme, highlighting the country’s investments in early-warning systems, strengthened laboratory networks and improved field coordination under the One Health framework. She noted that partnerships with ECOWAS-RAHC, AU-IBAR, FAO and WOAH are helping align national strategies with continental disease-control goals.

She warned that recurring disease outbreaks erode rural resilience and slow the pace of livestock sector transformation, calling on West African nations to shift from reactive responses to predictive surveillance powered by real-time data and analytics. With threats such as Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, Anthrax and Avian Influenza persisting across the region, she emphasized that only collective action can prevent widespread economic losses.

Akujobi appealed for deeper collaboration among veterinarians, laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, border authorities and pastoralist communities, insisting that effective disease control requires seamless coordination along the entire livestock value chain.

FAO Representative in Nigeria, Taofeek Braimah, added that PPR remains a major barrier to small ruminant production and rural stability. He expressed optimism that global eradication by 2030 is achievable if countries maintain political will and strengthen cross-border partnerships.

Participants from across West Africa and regional institutions attended the training, reaffirming their commitment to a shared regional approach for healthier livestock systems.