The federal government says Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) is responsible for the loss of more than N29 billion annually in the livestock sub-sector in Nigeria.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this at the unveiling and inauguration of the National Strategic Documents for the Control of transboundary animal diseases in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Osinbajo was represented by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

He said the losses was through mortality, morbidity and trade restrictions on Nigeria occasioned by the endemicity of some of these diseases in the country.

“As we may be aware,Transboundary animal diseases are one of the most economically devastating diseases of livestock in the West and Central Africa sub- region.

“Through mortality, morbidity and trade restrictions on Nigeria occasioned by the endemicity of some of these diseases in the country,” he said.

He said that the federal government recognised the key role the livestock industry plays in the provision of livelihoods for millions of Nigerians.

Mr Osinbajo said that intensive surveillance, epidemiology and response were being carried out in all the hotspot areas to keep check the rising profile of the diseases.

He said that the initiative was in collaboration with the State Veterinary Services, particularly in frontline States located at the fringes of international borders.

Mr Osinbajo said that mass vaccinations against these devastating diseases are carried out annually for millions of cattle, sheep, dogs, goats among others.

“Veterinarians, clinicians, animal health service providers and other important stakeholders required a roadmap that will guide them properly to eradication the diseases,” he said.

He said that the validation of the strategic documents had received wider stakeholder inputs and contributions from experts and key players.

“It is  our utmost desire to see to the smooth implementation and operation of these strategies to ensure realisation of the objectives they are meant to serve,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar said that TADs is a national issue that has no respect for borders.

He said there was the need to maximise the production and productivity of the livestock which is being threatened by the menace of endemic.

Mr Abubakar said livestock is also threatened by emerging and re-emerging TADs, inadequate veterinary infrastructure and limited veterinary services.

He said it was against this backdrop that the ministry and relevant stakeholders developed and validated  National Strategic plans for the control and eradication of major TADs.

The minister listed the TADs as: Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), African Trypanosomiasis & Tick Borne Diseases and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle;

Others are Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats, African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs and Newcastle disease (NCD) in chickens among others. 

(NAN)