Nigeria moves against livestock diseases, seeks wider vaccine distribution
Federal Government Intensifies Efforts to Combat Livestock Diseases
The Federal Government is renewing its commitment to address livestock diseases that are impacting farmers and food production. The initiative seeks to explore partnerships aimed at improving vaccine access throughout the country.
The announcement came via a statement from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development. Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha met with a delegation from Ambuvets Konsult and MCI Santé Animale on April 20, 2026, in Abuja to discuss the issue.
The meeting focused on critical livestock diseases, including Peste des Petits Ruminants, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, which have been detrimental to productivity and farmer income. Maiha underscored the significance of animal health in the context of national development, reaffirming that disease control is integral to reforms in the livestock sector.
“We are undertaking an ambitious transformation of the livestock sector, in which disease prevention, control, and management are central pillars,” Maiha stated. He highlighted that partnerships with private organizations are crucial for enhancing the capacity to combat transboundary diseases and improve vaccine access for farmers.
The ministry’s collaboration includes Ambuvets Konsult, a Nigerian animal health company, and MCI Santé Animale, a veterinary pharmaceutical firm. Together, they aim to enhance vaccine production and distribution networks.
Shehu Shamsudeen, CEO of Ambuvets Konsult, noted that the partnership seeks to address gaps in vaccine availability through combined manufacturing and distribution efforts. Tadlaoui Omari Khalid, CEO of MCI Santé Animale, emphasized the importance of developing local solutions to livestock health challenges in Africa. “For me, it is to find the best solution for our continent. We have to come together and find the right solutions for ourselves,” he said.
The initiative also involves collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute to support vaccine trials and ensure their effectiveness in local conditions.
