FG, FAO Move to Curb Bird Flu, Tighten Livestock Movement
"The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service had a crucial role to play in preventing infected birds from being transported from outbreak locations to unaffected areas." Dr Mitchell Alao, Head, Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services and National Programme Coordinator of the Avian Influenza Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development
..... "Restricting the movement of infected animals, alongside effective surveillance and risk communication, remains essential to containing outbreaks and preventing further transmission.
..... Says “The idea is to keep the disease in the location where it has occurred. It is basically like covering something with a blanket so that what is covered does not escape. The Quarantine Service is there to ensure that affected birds are not moved out of locations where an outbreak has occurred."
The Federal Government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations have intensified efforts to contain avian influenza in Nigeria, calling for stricter controls on animal movement, improved disease surveillance and tougher enforcement of biosecurity measures.
The two organisations said effective monitoring of livestock transportation and compliance with established regulations were critical to preventing the spread of the disease, protecting poultry farmers’ investments and safeguarding the country’s food supply.
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Dr Mitchell Alao |
The call was made by the Head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services and National Programme Coordinator of the Avian Influenza Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Mitchell Alao, at a workshop on strengthening the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government at the workshop held on October 22, Alao said the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service had a crucial role to play in preventing infected birds from being transported from outbreak locations to unaffected areas.
He stressed that restricting the movement of infected animals, alongside effective surveillance and risk communication, remained essential to containing outbreaks and preventing further transmission.
“The idea is to keep the disease in the location where it has occurred. It is basically like covering something with a blanket so that what is covered does not escape. The Quarantine Service is there to ensure that affected birds are not moved out of locations where an outbreak has occurred,” he said.
Alao called for stronger institutional capacity and closer collaboration between the quarantine service, security agencies and government institutions to ensure effective enforcement of animal movement regulations.
He identified the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, state governments and local government authorities as key partners in strengthening compliance and coordinating responses to avian influenza outbreaks.
The director also disclosed that the $350,000 intervention grant provided by the FAO through its Technical Cooperation Programme for Emergencies to support avian influenza control in Nigeria was expected to end in April 2027.
He underscored the need for sustained efforts to strengthen disease prevention and control mechanisms beyond the intervention period.
In his presentation, the FAO Country Team Lead for Livestock in Nigeria, Dr Otto Vianney, disclosed that the organisation had developed a digital tool for collecting data on animal movement globally to improve the monitoring and tracking of livestock transportation.
Vianney said the workshop was designed to assess the contribution of animal movement to the spread of diseases in Nigeria while promoting public awareness, community education and understanding of preventive measures.
He also highlighted the four pillars of the Good Emergency Management Practices framework, namely prevention and preparedness; early detection and early response; eradication and recovery; and coordination and communication.
According to him, the framework provides a structured approach to managing animal health emergencies and reducing the impact of disease outbreaks.
Also speaking, the North-Central Zonal Commander of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Dr David Shehu, said improved monitoring and control of poultry transportation should not be viewed as an attempt to restrict trade but as a necessary measure to protect the livestock industry and public interest.
He said effective animal movement control would protect investments, safeguard national food safety, sustain the supply of essential animal products to millions of households and preserve jobs in both urban and rural communities.
Shehu listed strict enforcement of biosecurity measures during animal movement, proper documentation, regular updating of designated control posts and the prevention of illegal transportation as priorities for maintaining a productive poultry sector.
He also advocated stronger public-private partnerships, shared responsibility, technology integration and strict compliance with existing regulations.
However, he identified porous alternative routes, poor compliance, inadequate infrastructure and the risks associated with transporting live animals as major challenges confronting the agency.
As part of the workshop, participants inspected the Garuku Toll Gate along the Akwanga Road in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to assess animal movement procedures and the effectiveness of existing monitoring and control measures.
During the exercise, NAQS officers inspected three vehicles transporting livestock.
The first vehicle was conveying nine cattle from Lafia, while the second carried a mixed consignment of cattle, goats, sheep and poultry. Temperatures of 35.9 degrees Celsius and 34.7 degrees Celsius were recorded during the inspections.
The third vehicle was transporting 35 cattle from Adamawa State to Warri, Delta State, with a valid animal movement permit.
Following the exercise, Vianney urged quarantine officers to be more proactive in discharging their responsibilities, stressing that effective monitoring, surveillance and control of animal movement were vital to preventing the spread of transboundary animal diseases.
The ministry said sustained collaboration was necessary to protect livelihoods, improve food safety and build a resilient and productive livestock sector as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry.
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