Abuja: The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has announced plans to significantly increase annual vaccine production at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) from 150 million to 850 million doses. This initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s local vaccine production capacity and improve the country’s response to animal disease outbreaks.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, revealed this development during the project’s mid-term review meeting. Abubakar stated that the project has also facilitated the creation of a 40 million-dose strategic vaccine storage facility in the Federal Capital Territory, alongside additional regional cold-chain infrastructure.
Abubakar emphasized that animal health interventions are a key component of the project, with over 23.3 million animals vaccinated across Nigeria to date. The vaccinations have targeted diseases such as anthrax, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The project has successfully vaccinated over 10 million cattle, 9.1 million goats and sheep, and more than 4.1 million poultry birds nationwide.
The project has also seen the construction of seven model veterinary hospitals, three of which are completed and operational, while 13 others are under various stages of completion across participating states. These facilities are improving access to veterinary care, strengthening disease surveillance systems, and enhancing livestock health service delivery nationwide.
In addition to these efforts, Abubakar highlighted that L-PRES is working to strengthen research, feed systems, and productivity infrastructure. The project has completed the rehabilitation of the National Feed Reference Laboratory at the University of Ibadan. Construction of additional laboratories is underway at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia.
Moreover, the project has upgraded seed multiplication facilities, hay barns, boreholes, and water systems at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, to further support livestock health and productivity.