Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Federal Government has called on West African States to strengthen collective action against transboundary animal diseases, particularly Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which continue to threaten livestock productivity, livelihoods, and regional integration.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, 10th December 2025, at the opening of the Regional Training on Strengthening Capacities for PPR and Other Transboundary Animal Diseases.
This was contained in the statement signed by the Assistant Chief Executive officer ( Information), Ogochukwu Igboamalu.
Dr. Akujobi reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to regional solidarity and the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme. She highlighted ongoing national efforts, including strengthening the National Animal Disease Information System to improve nationwide reporting, enhancing laboratory–field collaboration under the One Health framework, and deepening cooperation with ECOWAS-RAHC, AU-IBAR, FAO, and WOAH to align national actions with continental strategies.
According to her, hosting the regional training in Abuja demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to regional capacity development and deepen technical cooperation with sister countries in West Africa.
She stressed that every outbreak in rural communities weakens resilience, disrupts social and economic stability, and delays regional livestock transformation goals. “If Africa must meet the global target of PPR eradication, we must move from reactive, event-driven responses to predictive, risk-based and analytics-driven surveillance,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary also noted that West Africa continues to battle PPR alongside Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), African Swine Fever (ASF), Anthrax, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and other transboundary and zoonotic diseases that threaten food security and household livelihoods.
She called on veterinarians, laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, wildlife experts, border authorities, and pastoralist communities to work collaboratively, as each plays a critical role in disease prevention and control.
In his remarks, the FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Tofeek Braimah, described PPR as a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats, causing severe economic losses and undermining food security and resilience in rural and peri-urban areas.
Braimah noted that the global target of eradicating PPR by 2030 is ambitious but achievable with strong partnerships, sustained commitment, and coordinated action at all levels. He reaffirmed FAO’s full support to member states and regional organisations in their efforts to eradicate animal diseases.
Participants at the training were drawn from across West African countries.
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