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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has declared a fresh campaign against rabies, pledging to eliminate the fatal but preventable disease from Nigeria by 2030 in line with global targets.
At a Joint Ministerial Press Briefing to mark World Rabies Day 2025, held Thursday at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described rabies as one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases still threatening Nigerians. He insisted that the government is determined to stamp it out using the One Health approach.
“Government alone cannot win this battle. It requires you, me, and our communities working hand in hand. Together, we can make Nigeria rabies-free,” Maiha stated.
He explained that his Ministry has already commenced nationwide vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats, backed by intensified public sensitisation programmes and the strengthening of veterinary services, especially in underserved areas.
“Our approach is deliberate: to ensure that no family suffers the needless pain of losing a loved one to rabies,” he added.
Underscoring the role of partnerships, Maiha stressed that rabies eradication is tied to Nigeria’s livestock development agenda and food security.
He called on state governments, local councils, veterinary professionals, and community leaders to align with the national elimination plan, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
Representatives of the Ministers of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, and of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, also pledged their Ministries’ full support for rabies elimination under the One Health platform.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi—represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Stephen Ohaeri—emphasised that rabies is almost 100 per cent fatal once symptoms appear, but 100 per cent preventable through vaccination and responsible pet ownership. “We will not relent until rabies is eliminated from our borders. The health of our animals is directly tied to the wellbeing of our people,” she said.
She disclosed that the Ministry is prioritising capacity building for veterinary officers, expanding diagnostic facilities, and ensuring that states receive the technical support required to respond to outbreaks.
International partners, professional associations, and civil society groups also commended Nigeria’s leadership in mass vaccination campaigns and pledged expanded access to vaccines and technical assistance for the country’s anti-rabies drive.
World Rabies Day 2025 brought together veterinary professionals, health experts, academia, and the media to raise awareness and spotlight the government’s strategic plan for achieving a rabies-free Nigeria.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans, and is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected dogs. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, making prevention through vaccination the most effective safeguard.
According to the World Health Organization, dog-mediated rabies causes tens of thousands of deaths globally each year, with Africa and Asia carrying the highest burden.