FG Calls for United West African Action on Livestock Diseases

The Federal Government has urged West African countries to step up collective action against the livestock diseases crossing borders and undermining food security across the region.

The call was delivered in Abuja on Wednesday during the opening of a regional training programme on strengthening capacities for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and other transboundary animal diseases.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, said Nigeria is pushing for deeper regional cooperation as PPR continues to threaten livestock productivity, rural livelihoods and broader regional integration.

She added that hosting the training in Abuja underscores the country’s commitment to building capacity and strengthening technical collaboration with neighbouring states.

Akujobi outlined Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, including improvements to the National Animal Disease Information System to boost nationwide reporting, stronger laboratory–field linkages under the One Health framework, and increased cooperation with ECOWAS-RAHC, AU-IBAR, FAO and WOAH to align national responses with continental strategies.

She warned that repeated outbreaks continue to disrupt rural communities and stall regional livestock transformation plans. “If Africa must meet the global target of PPR eradication, we must move from reactive, event-driven responses to predictive, risk-based and analytics-driven surveillance,” she said.

She noted that West Africa is not only dealing with PPR but also facing persistent threats from Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, Anthrax and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, diseases that pose serious risks to food security and household income across the region.

Akujobi called on veterinarians, laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, wildlife experts, border authorities and pastoralist communities to work more closely, stressing that each group plays a crucial role in disease prevention and control.

In his remarks, the FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Tofeek Braimah, described PPR as a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats and leading to severe economic losses, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.

He acknowledged that the goal of eradicating PPR globally by 2030 is ambitious but achievable with strong partnerships and sustained commitment. Braimah reiterated FAO’s continued support to member states and regional organisations working to eliminate animal diseases