L-PRES Plans Major Expansion of Livestock Vaccine Production

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project says it is working to increase annual vaccine production at the National Veterinary Research Institute from 150 million doses to 850 million doses to strengthen livestock health in Nigeria.

National Project Coordinator Dr Sanusi Abubakar disclosed this during the project’s mid-term review meeting. He said the move is aimed at improving local vaccine production and helping the country respond more effectively to animal disease outbreaks.

Abubakar said the project has also established a strategic vaccine storage facility in the Abuja with capacity for 40 million doses, along with additional regional cold-chain facilities.

He said more than 23.3 million animals have been vaccinated nationwide under the programme. The vaccinations cover diseases including anthrax, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Foot and Mouth Disease.

According to him, the project has vaccinated more than 10 million cattle, 9.1 million goats and sheep, and over 4.1 million poultry birds across the country.

The coordinator said L-PRES has also built seven model veterinary hospitals, with three already completed and commissioned, while 13 others are under construction in participating states. He said the facilities are expected to improve veterinary services and strengthen disease monitoring.

Abubakar added that the project is also supporting livestock research and feed development. He said the rehabilitation of the National Feed Reference Laboratory at University of Ibadan has been completed, while new laboratories are being built at Nasarawa State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture.

He said additional upgrades have been carried out at the National Animal Production Research Institute to improve feed supply, pasture development and livestock productivity.