FG Trains Over 60 Vets for 2030 PPR Eradication Target

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has trained more than 60 veterinarians to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants, or PPR, in sheep and goats by 2030.

The training was held during a two-day pre-field workshop on PPR surveillance and monitoring of transboundary animal diseases in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, said the participants were trained on animal selection, sample collection, specimen handling, digital data capture, biosafety and field procedures.

He said Nigeria must improve laboratory confirmation of suspected cases to properly track the spread of PPR and identify areas requiring intervention.

Anzaku said field surveillance recorded 565 suspected PPR outbreaks between January and June, but only four were confirmed by the National Veterinary Research Institute.

He also reported 504 suspected Newcastle Disease outbreaks in poultry during the period, with only two samples submitted for laboratory testing and one confirmed positive.

The workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, AU-IBAR.

Anzaku said accurate surveillance data would support targeted vaccination, better disease control and more effective use of resources as Nigeria works toward the 2030 PPR eradication target.