Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
A 33-member National Technical Working Group (TWG) on the control and eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) has been inaugurated to drive coordinated action toward protecting Nigeria’s sheep and goat population and strengthening the nation’s livestock sector.
Speaking at the inauguration held on Tuesday, in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described PPR as one of the most devastating transboundary animal diseases affecting sheep and goats across endemic regions, including Nigeria.
He explained that beyond animal health, the disease poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of pastoralists and smallholder farmers, undermines national food and nutrition security, and constrains trade in livestock and livestock products.
This was contained in the statement signed by the Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Information), Ogochukwu Igboamalu .
The Minister noted that small ruminants are especially vital to women, youth, and vulnerable rural households, serving as a critical source of income, nutrition, and financial resilience.
“For this reason, controlling and ultimately eradicating PPR is not only a veterinary imperative but also an economic, social, and developmental priority for our nation,” Maiha stated.
He added that the eradication of PPR directly supports economic diversification, poverty reduction, youth and women empowerment, and the expansion of regional and international livestock trade.
While inaugurating the TWG, the Minister urged members to approach their assignment with dedication and professionalism, assuring them of the Ministry’s full policy backing and institutional support.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, described the TWG as a critical institutional mechanism for translating policy into action and ensuring that Nigeria’s PPR control efforts are technically sound, harmonised, and sustainable.
Represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Samuel Anzaku, the Permanent Secretary outlined the key expectations of the TWG, including providing technical oversight on PPR prevention, control, and eradication; supporting the development and implementation of the National PPR Control and Eradication Roadmap; strengthening surveillance, vaccination, diagnostics, and data management; and promoting effective coordination among federal and state institutions, research bodies, the private sector, and development partners.
Earlier in his welcome address, Head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, Dr. Michael Alao Mitchell, said the inauguration marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen animal health systems and combat PPR, which continues to threaten the livestock sector and rural livelihoods.
The event attracted participants from research institutions, veterinary hospitals, development partners, livestock farmers, the private sector, and other key stakeholders.
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