The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Musa Inuwa, has stressed that livestock health is central to the country’s food security, public health, and economic growth.
He spoke in Abuja on Friday at a capacity-building workshop for veterinary officers, para-veterinarians, and community animal health workers, organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
Inuwa noted that Nigeria continues to face outbreaks of priority livestock diseases, which cause economic losses, reduce productivity, restrict trade, and trigger public health emergencies. He cited the recent cases of Anthrax and African Swine Fever as reminders of the need for stronger preparedness and response systems.
“Veterinarians provide technical leadership, para-vets ensure continuity in field services, while community animal health workers connect us directly with rural livestock owners. You are the eyes and ears of the national veterinary system. Without your vigilance, early reporting and swift action, our disease surveillance cannot work,” he said.
He urged participants to embrace strategies such as vaccination, movement control, biosecurity, and community awareness, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international frameworks like the PPR Global Eradication Programme, ECOWAS, AU-IBAR, and WOAH.
Dr. Moses Arokoyo, President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), described the training as timely, stressing that population growth has intensified interaction between humans, animals, and the environment, fuelling recurring outbreaks.
“The best thing for us is to ensure adequate skilled personnel. Prevention is key, but where we cannot prevent, we must detect and control early,” Arokoyo said.
