Akwanga: The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has initiated a training program for over 60 veterinarians aimed at eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats by the year 2030. The ministry is committed to eliminating this deadly viral disease to secure livelihoods, boost national revenue, and ensure long-term food security throughout Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, addressed the participants at the Pre-Field Training Workshop for PPR Sero-Surveillance and Transboundary Animal Diseases Sero-Monitoring held in Akwanga, Nasarawa State. The workshop, a two-day event organized in collaboration with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), aims to prepare data collectors with standardized protocols, sample collection techniques, digital data capture, biosafety measures, and field logistics.
Peste des Petits Ruminants, also known as sheep and goat plague, is a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting both domestic and wild small ruminants. The workshop is designed to teach participants about field methodology, animal selection, sampling procedures, specimen handling, data collection tools, documentation requirements, and standard operational procedures. Anzaku emphasized the importance of applying unified standards across different states during the field exercises.
Anzaku noted that the implementation schedule for the field exercises would be determined during the workshop, considering the readiness and operational realities of participating state teams. He highlighted that this training marks a significant milestone in strengthening animal health surveillance to achieve the global 2030 PPR eradication target. Nigeria has recently updated and validated its National Strategic Plan for PPR control, taking into account current realities to intensify efforts toward the 2030 goal.
The Chief Veterinary Officer also pointed out that a recent AU-IBAR Monitoring mission helped evaluate progress, identify operational gaps, and determine areas needing greater investment. He warned that disease surveillance without laboratory confirmation limits the ability to identify hotspots, track disease circulation, monitor population immunity, and guide interventions. Between January and June, field surveillance reported 565 suspected PPR outbreaks, but only four were laboratory-confirmed by the National Veterinary Research Institute, highlighting a significant gap between field reporting and laboratory verification.
Anzaku urged teams to generate current, geographically representative, and scientifically defensible evidence on disease circulation, susceptible animal populations, and overall herd immunity. He stressed the importance of maintaining professionalism, warning that improper sampling, misidentification, or broken chains of custody could compromise the entire exercise. He emphasized that gathered data must lead to better decisions, targeted vaccinations, improved risk identification, stronger reporting, and efficient resource deployment.
Furthermore, Anzaku expressed gratitude to the ministry and AU-IBAR for sponsoring the workshop and funding the upcoming field activities. He acknowledged the contributions of the NVRI, State Veterinary Services, academia, private veterinarians, and allied partners as critical to the success of the exercise. Anzaku also commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for establishing the State Ministry of Livestock Development, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, and assured the state government of continued federal collaboration to advance livestock productivity and strengthen disease control measures.
Dr. Abdullahi Musa, Nasarawa Director of Veterinary Services, reiterated that the new ministry would boost state livestock production and food security. Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives from AU-IBAR, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, and the National Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists, with stakeholders pledging total commitment to delivering accurate data to support PPR eradication and protect farmer livelihoods. The workshop was attended by representatives from NVRI, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, professional associations, private practitioners, and livestock ministry officials from federal and state levels.