In an effort to improve livestock health and productivity in the nation, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has stepped up efforts to combat a viral disease that affects tiny ruminants.
On March 17, 2026, the proposal was discussed at a two-day technical meeting in Abuja, where stakeholders examined methods for managing Peste des Petits Ruminants, or PPR, a disease that affects sheep and goats.
A statement posted on the ministry’s official account said that the purpose of the gathering was to evaluate the disease’s burden and investigate data-driven remedies.
Samuel Anzaku, Nigeria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, stated at the event that the exercise’s goal is to enhance preparation and reaction to livestock illnesses.
This gathering offers a chance to assess the prevalence of animal illnesses in Nigeria. We can direct focused efforts and influence government planning by creating trustworthy databases,” he stated.
The results of the assessment, according to Anzaku, will help with national initiatives to combat PPR and other animal diseases.
Speaking as well, Patience Tomoh, the Director of Veterinary Medicine and National Focal Person for PPR, emphasized the importance of precise statistics on livestock losses and disease effects.
She pointed out that animal commerce, food supplies, and rural livelihoods are still impacted by the disease.
“PPR has a major impact on livestock trade, food security, and smallholder livelihoods,” she stated.
According to Gemma Chaters, a technical expert at Lancaster University, the goal of current research is to quantify the disease’s whole effects on Nigeria’s cattle industry.
It is crucial to comprehend PPR’s entire effects on livelihoods and the economy. The meeting will prioritize locations with the highest illness burden and offer the data required for evidence-based management measures, she said.
