Nigeria Advances Animal Health with Vet Medicines List Validation

Nigeria has taken a historic step toward strengthening animal health systems and combating antimicrobial resistance with the review and validation of the country’s first National Essential Veterinary Medicines List (NEVML) and Guidelines. 

The Veterinary Essential Medicines List serves as a national guide to ensure the safe, effective and uniform availability of approved medicines needed to protect animal health and strengthen food security.

In a three-day workshop convened by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) in collaboration with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) under the Fleming Fund Country Grant, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Samuel A. Anzaku, described the development of the NEVML as a “huge milestone for the profession and the animal health sector at large.” 

Representing the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anzaku maintained that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a global threat affecting human health, animal productivity, and livelihoods, stressing that the new essential medicines list goes beyond antimicrobials to cover all veterinary medicinal products required for use in Nigeria.

"Veterinary medicinal products are essential for animal health and welfare. As professionals, we have a responsibility to use these products in a responsible and prudent manner, and this document will provide the guidance needed to do so.

"I encourage us to consider the phased withdrawal of veterinary critically important antimicrobials for use in food animals. This aligns with global requirements under the UNGA 2024 and Muscat 2023 declarations and will help preserve these medicines for human health.

"The calibre of professionals in this hall was deliberately chosen. You are critical stakeholders with the expertise to ensure Nigeria produces a comprehensive, globally compliant document that will guide prudent antimicrobial use in the animal health sector," Dr. Anzaku said. 

He commended MSH for its technical support and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to developing clear treatment guidelines that provide animal health professionals with safe and effective therapeutic options. 

The CVON further explained that the NEVML will complement the Veterinary Council of Nigeria’s formulary reviewed in 2018 and will incorporate WOAH’s categorisation of antimicrobials as veterinary important, highly important, or critically important.

Earlier, the Director of Veterinary Services, Nasarawa State, Musa Abdullahi, welcomed participants to Keffi, while One Health Senior Advisor at MSH, Dr. Chinemerem Onwuliri, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in AMR surveillance and containment across One Health sectors. 

Participants at the workshop held from November 5–7, 2025, in Keffi, Nasarawa State, included experts from academia, regulatory agencies, state veterinary services, and private-sector stakeholders. 

The validated National Essential

Veterinary Medicines List and Guidelines will now serve as a national reference tool guiding veterinary prescription practices, regulatory oversight, and the prudent use of antimicrobials to safeguard both animal and public health.

Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu

Head, Press and Public Relations 

6th November, 2025