By Collins Agwam
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to eliminating Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, as part of efforts to strengthen animal health systems and protect Nigeria’s poultry industry.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance on Thursday in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State at the opening of a two-day inception workshop on the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (FAO-TCP) project on strengthening HPAI preparedness, detection and response in Nigeria.
Maiha said the Federal Government would ensure that outcomes from the workshop were fully implemented to improve disease prevention and control across the livestock sector.
“We have the long-standing collaboration between FAO and Nigeria in advancing livestock development, improving animal health and enhancing national capacities to prevent and respond to animal disease threats,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria had continued to battle recurring outbreaks of bird flu since 2021, affecting poultry farms across several states and leading to heavy economic losses.
“Nigeria has continued to experience outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in successive years since 2021.
The disease has affected poultry farms across multiple states and all geopolitical zones of the country, including major poultry-producing states such as Kano, Plateau, Ogun and several others,” the minister said.
“These recurring outbreaks have resulted in substantial economic losses, disruption of the poultry value chain, loss of livelihoods and heightened concerns regarding animal and public health,” he added.
Maiha stressed that effective control of the disease required a coordinated national response supported by strong surveillance and timely reporting systems.
“The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development recognises that effective prevention and control of HPAI requires strong surveillance systems, efficient laboratory networks, timely disease reporting, well-coordinated emergency response mechanisms, effective risk communication and close collaboration among all stakeholders,” he said.
He commended the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations for supporting the initiative with a $350,000 grant, describing the intervention as timely and aligned with government priorities.
The minister urged participants to actively engage in the workshop and contribute practical solutions to strengthen ongoing efforts against the disease.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said the workshop was designed to gather stakeholder input toward finding lasting solutions to the recurring outbreaks.
She was represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, who said bird flu remained a persistent threat to the poultry industry and national economy.
“Since the resurgence of the outbreaks in 2021, Nigeria has continued to record cases annually, with outbreaks reported every year without interruption,” he said.
Anzaku noted that infections had been recorded across several bird species, including layers, broilers, ducks, turkeys, geese and local chickens.
“In this workshop, we are going to collectively look at the issue of HPAI and what we can do differently to address the problem,” he added.
He called on poultry farmers, veterinarians and animal health workers to strengthen collaboration with government by ensuring early reporting of suspected outbreaks.
“Early reporting of outbreaks remains the most effective tool for rapid response, containment and prevention of disease spread,” he said.
Arewa PUNCH reports that stakeholders at the workshop, including representatives of the FAO, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association and the Federal Ministry of Environment, pledged support for coordinated efforts to eliminate the disease.
The workshop brought together federal and state officials, development partners, researchers and poultry industry stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s response framework against avian influenza.
