The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has donated over N15 million worth of veterinary drugs to the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture And Water Resources to ensure the production of healthy animals and meat in the area.

ICRC also scheduled between December 1 and 17, for the vaccination of about 15,000 livestock across two Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking at the livestock stakeholders’ conference in Lafia, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nuhu Bunu, lauded the organisation for the numerous humanitarian activities in the state.

Bunu, who assured of the government’s support towards the success of the vaccination exercise, said it would further collaborate with the ICRC and other partners to ensure better welfare for its citizens.

On his part, the Director of livestock services in the ministry, Emmanuel Sunday, said that the government was doing its best to ensure the production of healthy animals and healthy meat in the state.

Specifically, the director noted the lack of veterinary doctors, functional vehicles, inadequate veterinary laboratories and hospitals as some of the challenges facing the department.

Speaking about the vaccination exercise, the head of livestock of ICRC in Nigeria, Abubakar Madi, said the exercise would be restricted to Awe and Keana LGAs.

He noted that the two LGAs were preferred for the exercise because they harbour a large population of pastoralists, most of whom were displaced from other areas due to crises.

Furthermore, Madi said the livestock stakeholders’ conference was meant for veterinarians, pastoralists and other stakeholders from the two LGAs to exchange notes ahead of the vaccination exercise.

According to him, since 2018, ICRC had undertaken several humanitarian interventions in the state, including the deworming of over 200,000 livestock.

source agro nigeria