Abuja: The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced an aggressive rabies vaccination campaign, aiming to vaccinate between 15,000 to 20,000 dogs and cats over a two-week period.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Mandate Secretary, Mr. Sulieman Ango, monitored the exercise in Gwagwalada on Wednesday, stating that the initiative aims to permanently halt the spread of rabies across the territory. This two-week campaign is designed to create a comprehensive protective barrier against the virus, following localized rabies cases reported in the Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils. Ango emphasized that physical oversight is crucial to ensuring the accuracy and efficacy of the ongoing intervention.
He praised the secretariat’s veterinary team for their rapid containment efforts and noted that, aside from the initially reported cases in Gwagwalada and Kwali, no new rabies cases have been recorded elsewhere in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He attributed the swift approval and proactive support from the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, for enabling the secretariat to mobilize immediate resources to the affected areas.
Ango highlighted that over 100 experienced veterinary officers have been deployed across key locations to execute the operation. He expressed confidence that by vaccinating the targeted number of animals, the spread of the virus would be halted. He assured residents that the two-week timeframe is sufficient for the team to cover the scope of the operation.
Addressing public concerns over the outbreak, the mandate secretary urged FCT residents to remain calm and cooperate fully with veterinary teams on the ground. He reiterated that the government’s swift response demonstrates a commitment to ensuring public health and safety.
Dr. Karnak Dandam, Director of Veterinary Services, stated that the territory-wide free rabies vaccination campaign aims to eradicate the deadly virus across all 62 wards of the FCT. He described rabies as a fatal disease once clinical symptoms manifest in humans but emphasized that it is entirely preventable through animal immunization.
Dandam revealed that prior to the central rollout, several communities had already taken proactive measures. For example, Kuje Area Council initiated early local vaccination drives following initial outbreak reports. Bassa village also partnered with the secretariat, with veterinary officers deployed to administer locally secured vaccines.
He expressed confidence that the current stock of vaccines would be sufficient to achieve the two-week target, with more than 12,000 vaccine doses available for continuous vaccination efforts, including stray animals.
Beneficiaries of the exercise in Gwagwalada commended the FCT for its swift response. Mr. Nathan Yusuf, a local dog owner, and Bashir Yusuf, a local hunter, both expressed satisfaction with the free vaccination exercise and praised the FCTA for providing timely veterinary care at no cost.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the FCTA confirmed eight rabies cases and two deaths in the territory on July 15 and urged residents to vaccinate their pets to curb the virus’ spread. The administration subsequently announced plans for a mass vaccination exercise across all villages and towns in the six area councils of the FCT.