The Nigerian government has advocated responsible animal ownership, urging dog owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated from time-to-time.

The call was made during a sensitisation campaign aimed at ending human deaths from dog-triggered rabies by 2030.

Rabies is largely contracted from dog saliva when it makes contact with broken skin or injuries which attacks the body’s central nervous system.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development said it recorded over a 100 cases of animal rabies across 16 states  between January and August 2026, highlighting the rampancy of the disease in the nation.

“Protecting communities from rabies requires everyone to play a part. We must stop working in silos and continue to educate families, encourage responsible animal ownership, and work together to reduce risks in our communities,” Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, said in a statement on Thursday. 

Nigeria has adopted One Health approach combining human, animal and environmental health sectors to combat rabies.

One Health officer at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dorcas Mernyi, called for prompt treatment in the event of exposure.

She said, “No one should die from rabies simply because they did not know what to do after a dog bite or could not access treatment. We must ensure health workers recognise possible exposure immediately and that patients receive appropriate care without delay.”

The WHO Emergency Preparedness and Response Cluster Lead in Nigeria, Alexander Chimbaru, says death prevention was team work requiring cooperation of all citizens.

“Ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies requires sustained collaboration between government, health and veterinary professionals, communities and dog owners. Every dog vaccinated, every exposure reported early and every person who receives timely care takes us closer to the 2030 goal,” Mr Chimbaru said.

The statement noted that the World Health Organisation would support Nigeria in rabies investigations and response coordination.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advised victims of animal bites and scratches to immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for a minimum of 15 minutes and urgently seek health care.

The centre urged victims not to wait for symptoms to appear before seeking treatment.