Gombe Governor flags-off Mass Vaccination Campaign Against Trans-boundary Animal Diseases

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has flagged-off the 2022 Mass Vaccination Campaign against Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases for the North-East Zone.

The launch of the vaccination in Dadin-Kowa, Gombe State, by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is aimed at improving the livestock sub-sector, by providing over two million doses of vaccines to support the six states in the North East.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Maimuna Habib, said the vaccination was against Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases, like the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, foot and mouth disease, Peste Des Petits Ruminants, and Newcastle Disease.

Dr. Abubakar said the vaccination was critical in livestock production.

He revealed the population of the animals in Nigeria to be at, over 22.3 million for cattle, over 53 million sheep, about 100 million goats, over 9 million pigs and over 425.7 million poultry across the country.

According to the Minister, the vaccination was being conducted to guarantee the full potential of the animals and their socio-economic benefits in the country.
“The sub-sector provides economic and food security, nutrition and means of livelihood for majority of rural dwellers. Livestock supplies the much-needed protein for growth and mental development of our children. The by-products from these animals like hides and skin are used in the production of belts, shoes and bags, the bone is used in animal feed production, while organic fertilisers come from animal wastes for crop production,” the Minister said.

He pledged that the Federal Government would continue to partner with states in carrying out the annual animal vaccination to ensure healthy livestock population and to achieve the much-desired herd immunity.

Vaccination in geopolitical zones

Dr. Abubakar said after the vaccination in Gombe State, further vaccination would be conducted in the remaining four geo-political zones of the country, because it had already been carried out in the North-West in Jigawa last March.

He said the diseases had high mortality rate and were easily contagious with the potential to spread rapidly, thereby causing socio-economic and public health issues in the State and the nation as a whole.

Annual vaccination
The Gombe State Governor said the annual vaccination demonstrated Federal Government’s commitment to boost the health of animals, their production, as well as prevent setbacks in livestock management.

“The targeted diseases include contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, (CBPPV), foot and mouth disease (FMDV), Pest Des Petits Ruminants (PPRV) and Newcastle disease (ND) among others. Let me therefore assure you of our commitment to sustaining this campaign for general improvement of livestock production in the state and across the region.

“To reduce the impact of these diseases on our peasant pastoralist, this administration, despite scarcity of funds has procured enough vaccines and other veterinary equipment for the vaccination exercise,” said Governor Yahaya.

He gave the assurances that his administration would continue to develop the agricultural sector, especially the livestock sub-sector, because it was one of the mainstay for livelihood and economic emancipation of the people in the North-East Zone.

“Our desire is to transform the Livestock sub-sector in Gombe State,” said Governor Yahaya.

He said the Gombe State Government has keyed into the National Livestock Transformation Plan, as well as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support project of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in order to achieve improvement in livestock production, which are aimed at improving livestock production and curbing farmers/herders clashes.

“Also, we are committed to ensuring self-sufficiency and sustainable food security, stimulate exports of livestock and livestock products as well as create wealth and job opportunities,” Governor Yahaya said.

The Governor appealed to stakeholders to join hands with the various State Governments to ensure the success of the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Gombe State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Modibbo Yahaya, said the successful implementation of the annual vaccination programme would ensure quality meat and milk sufficiency, as well as wealth creation, by improving productivity, ensuring food security and animal development.

Modibbo thanked Governor Yahaya and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development for facilitating the construction of some critical infrastructure at Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve.

He, however, appealed to the government to commission the facility, so that herders and non herders alike would make use of the place.

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh