LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Kogi State has officially launched a major public health intervention for its agricultural sector, taking delivery of 233,000 vaccine doses to combat devastating transboundary animal diseases.
On Thursday, February 5, the shipment was received as part of the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, a nationwide initiative designed to safeguard the country’s food security and animal health systems.
The State Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza Otaru, handed the essential medical supplies to the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, in Lokoja. This “critical intervention” specifically targets three high-risk pathogens — Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Newcastle Disease, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
Dr. Bolarin praised the Federal Government’s effort, noting, “The impact of this initiative is an increase in livestock productivity, as it will improve animal health,” benefiting everyone from large-scale pastoralists to small ruminant farmers. To ensure maximum coverage, the vaccination exercise will span all 21 local government areas, focusing on 64 designated value chain clusters across the state.
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As part of this massive logistical undertaking, the initiative includes 200,000 doses of CBPP vaccines for cattle, 30,000 doses of Newcastle Disease vaccines for poultry, and 3,000 doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines.
Maintaining the potency of these biologicals is a priority, with the Kogi L-PRES Project utilizing a newly established cold-chain storage facility at the Ministry of Livestock Development. The Legal Adviser for the national L-PRES office, Barr. Ken Agim, emphasized that this distribution is happening simultaneously across all 36 states and the FCT.
He noted that similar exercises in 2024 yielded “positive results” in boosting national livestock resilience and protecting the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
Final preparations for the field administration are now underway, as the state moves to insulate its livestock industry against the economic shocks of animal epidemics.
