Dr. Moses Arokoya, President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has revealed that 65 per cent of human diseases in Nigeria are zoonotic, meaning they originate from livestock.
He made the disclosure on Monday at the 61st Annual National Congress and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NVMA in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Arokoya highlighted that zoonotic diseases are on the rise in Nigeria and globally, causing an estimated 2.7 million deaths each year.
He said the choice of Taraba for the conference was strategic, noting that a Disease-Free Zone (DFZ) is planned for the Mambilla Plateau. “Eradicating diseases from Mambilla Plateau will enable the production of large metric tonnes of fresh meat,” he said.
The NVMA president emphasized the need for more DFZs across the country to boost livestock production and stimulate the economy.
Arokoya also criticized the poor state of abattoirs in Nigeria, warning that substandard facilities contribute to microbial resistance as many Nigerians consume drugs used in treating livestock before slaughter. He called for modern abattoirs in all 774 local government areas to tackle the problem.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing reforms in the livestock sector and urged the federal government to empower veterinarians further.
Arokoya also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to include veterinarians in its disaster intervention policies, stressing the need for their involvement in preparedness and response strategies for emergencies.
