By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has said that the Livestock sector is capable of spinning the nation’s economy into second leading revenue earner through job and wealth creation for thousands of Nigerians.
Aliyu gave this hint at the flag-off of vaccination campaign against trans boundary Animal Diseases in North Central Zone of Nigeria, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The minister who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, also noted that the livestock has enormous economic value as an avenue for wealth and job creation for thousands of Nigerians.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 47,000 doses of vaccines by the has donated 47,000 doses of animal vaccines to further strengthened the capacity to combat animal diseases in the FCT.
She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the nationwide vaccination exercise, an initiative that would foster diversify the Nigerian economy, enhance sustainable development and guarantee food security.
According to the minister the FCT was rapidly growing livestock population, adding that the major challenge has been the outbreak and spread of animal diseases, exacerbated by age-long nomadic livestock practices as well as increasing trans-boundary/migration of livestock without any form of control.
The situation has made it difficult for farmers to access quality animal health care, resulting to the loss of up to 40 –50 percent of animal stock by farmers thereby increasing the risks of transmission, she stressed.
She commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD), Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and other critical stakeholders for their relentless fight over the years against the outbreak and spread of animal diseases,
Meanwhile she disclosed that the Administration has currently developed a 10-year Livestock Development Plan (2022-2032) to provide the necessary framework for implementation of developmental programmes for the sector in the Territory.
The minister, therefore, called on livestock farmers in the north central zone to cooperate with the veterinary health officials who would be deployed to the field to carry out this exercise, she assured that the Administration would on its part, put every measure in place to ensure that no part of the FCT is left out in the exercise.
Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, noted that animal vaccination has been the safest and most effective means to prevent the outbreak and spread of animal diseases.
Ibrahim commended the FCT Minister of State for her continued support for the livestock sector in the territory, adding that her approval for the convening of monthly clinical interaction by veterinary health practitioners, the upgrade of veterinary clinics as well as the institution of a community engagement initiative to identify and resolve all the contentions issues between the host communities and farmers in the grazing reserves are yielding fruitful results.
He expressed the optimism that the trans boundary movement of livestock would be reduced with farmers having enhanced access to quality animal healthcare for their animals when more farmers settle at the reserves.
