In its quest to fight against diseases that afflict animals, the Federal Government has launched the National Strategic Documents (NSD) for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) to eradicate animal diseases bedeviling the livestock sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, stated at the event that took place at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, that the ministry, through the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Service, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, developed and validated the NSD.
TADs are highly contagious diseases that have the ability to spread very rapidly across national and international boundaries, with high potential for causing great socioeconomic losses and public health consequences to livestock farmers and pastoralists who depend on these animals as their means of livelihood.
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Abubakar disclosed that the government is targeting the establishment of primary animal health centers in all 774 local government areas to holistically tackle TAD challenges across the country.
He went on to explain that the document will focus on major TAD such as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), African trypanosomosis and tick-borne diseases, and foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle; peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats; African swine fever (ASF) in pigs; and Newcastle disease (NCD) in chickens, among others.
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The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, noted that TADs were responsible for more than 29 billion naira in losses annually through mortality, morbidity, and trade restrictions in Nigeria occasioned by the endemic nature of some of these diseases.
Professor Osinbajo described TADs as one of the most economically devastating diseases of livestock in the West and Central Africa Sub-Region, adding that stakeholders require a roadmap that will guide them properly to be able to control and achieve eventual eradication of these diseases.
