FG targets eradication of sheep, goat disease by 2030

Nigeria is reaffirming its commitment to eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease that affects sheep and goats, by the year 2030. The Federal Government highlighted that intensified surveillance, vaccination efforts, and cross-border collaboration are central to achieving this ambitious target.

Chinyere Akujobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, stated at a workshop in Abuja that eradicating PPR is both an animal health priority and a national development goal. She explained that eliminating the disease would significantly reduce poverty, improve the livelihoods of rural communities, enhance livestock productivity, and expand trade opportunities.

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Nigeria has remained fully committed to the global goal, under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health, to eradicate PPR by 2030.

Akujobi noted Nigeria's full commitment to the global goal, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health. The country has implemented various interventions, including disease surveillance, laboratory strengthening, outbreak investigations, targeted vaccination campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building programs. These measures aim to reduce the burden of PPR while improving disease reporting and response systems.

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We have implemented a range of interventions, including disease surveillance, laboratory strengthening, outbreak investigations, targeted vaccination campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building programmes aimed at reducing the burden of PPR while improving disease reporting and response systems.

Small ruminants are a vital economic safety net for millions of Nigerian households, making their protection critical to the government's agricultural transformation agenda. PPR is identified as one of the most economically devastating transboundary diseases affecting sheep and goats across Africa, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 200 million sheep and goats and significant transboundary trade with neighboring countries, faces a critical need to strengthen its control measures.

The workshop was convened to develop an evidence-based National Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, integrating veterinary services with cross-border trade standards and risk mitigation policies. Development partners, regional technical organizations, and national experts have been commended for their support in the fight against PPR. The ministry plans to prioritize a fully costed implementation plan backed by a sustainable resource mobilization strategy.

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This disease continues to threaten livelihoods, reduce household incomes and constrain the growth of the livestock sector. Given that Nigeria has Africa’s largest population of small ruminants, estimated at over 200 million sheep and goats, and shares major transboundary trade corridors with Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad, strengthening our control measures is imperative.