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Livestock Ministry Trains Officers on Disease Control
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commenced a three-day capacity-building workshop for Federal and State Veterinary Epidemiology Officers on Good Emergency Management Practice (GEMP) in animal disease detection and control.
The training, which began on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, was organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) project, a World Bank–funded initiative under the Ministry, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Declaring the workshop open, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, noted that the GEMP framework provides a structured model for managing animal health emergencies.
He urged participants to use the opportunity to strengthen surveillance, early warning, and rapid response capacities across states, stressing that disease-free zones are vital to accessing global meat markets and safeguarding national food security.
Delivering the opening address of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Public Health and Epidemiology and Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, described the training as both strategic and timely, noting that animal disease emergencies threaten food security, livelihoods, and national stability.
He underscored the Ministry’s collaboration with FAO and other partners to build a resilient animal health system aligned with international standards.
Representative of the FAO, Dr. Otto Muhinda, reaffirmed the Organization’s continued collaboration with the Ministry and the L-PRES project to promote sustainable livestock development and strengthen animal health emergency preparedness nationwide.
In the same vein, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Dr. Aisha Abubakar-Baju, representing the Nigeria Police Force Animal Branch, spoke on the Force’s active role in promoting animal health and biosecurity across the country, explaining that the Force has veterinary professionals are strategically positioned to support disease surveillance, food safety, and public health initiatives.
Participants at the workshop included epidemiology professionals from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and State Coordinators from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu
Head, Press and Public Relations
21st October 2025
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