The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) says it will promote animal health, enhance food safety and facilitate trade in animals and animal products in the country.

Columba Vakuru, chief veterinary officer of Nigeria, who spoke at a consultative stakeholders meeting on sanitary mandate on Monday in Abuja, said the council would pave the way for the transformation of animal health care delivery.

He said the move is to advance veterinary sanitation in Nigeria and build a future where animals thrive, communities prosper, and public health is safeguarded.

Mr Vakuru said the sanitary mandate articulated its priorities, objectives, and strategies to protect the health of animals and humans alike.

“The overall goal is to achieve animal welfare and guarantee food security, ultimately leading to improved public health,’’ he said.

The veterinary director urged members to actively engage in the discussions and share thoughts constructively, adding that their inputs would shape the future direction of veterinary services in Nigeria.

Mustapha Mohammed, the animal component officer, said the threat posed by transboundary animal diseases in the sub-region was enormous and recognised as the leading cause of low productivity and mortality in the livestock industry.

These threats, he said, were taken into account when the L-PRES project was in the process of development by the federal government preparation team and other experts.

He added that prevention, control, and possible eradication of four key transboundary diseases were the points of focus for the project under the animal health component.

Also, Adiya Ode, Propcom+’s Country Representative, said a robust public-private partnership (PPP) would facilitate the institutionalisation of routine livestock vaccination at the federal, state and local government levels and save costs from annual losses.

(NAN)