The National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, has revealed that over 80 per cent of Nigerian veterinary professionals operate in the private sector and primarily within urban centers.
Speaking during a program in Ilorin, Abubakar explained that this concentration leaves farmers in rural communities with limited access to veterinary services.
He announced that L-PRES, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, has concluded plans to deploy 780 private veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals to over 1,000 livestock clusters across 13 states under its Private Veterinary Services (PVS) program.
“One vet will engage five others, making 60 vets in a state, and across 13 states, this gives us a total of 780 vets,” he noted.
According to him, the initiative is a public-private partnership designed to provide quality veterinary services to livestock farmers, particularly those in rural areas where animal health personnel are scarce.
He stated that the program has the potential to reach at least 26,000 livestock farmers while strengthening the veterinary workforce and creating employment opportunities for young veterinarians and para-veterinarians.
Abubakar remarked that L-PRES commenced the pilot implementation of the PVS program in Kwara State as part of broader efforts to strengthen animal health services and improve livestock productivity across Nigeria.
He described Kwara as one of the leading states in L-PRES implementation, noting that it was the first state to flag off the PVS program.
He also announced that L-PRES has completed a Model Veterinary Hospital in Ilorin and a Strategic Animal Holding Facility at the Baruten border, while a pilot waste management plan is ongoing at Akerebiata, Ilorin.
The National Project Coordinator also outlined plans to establish additional veterinary clinics and a strategic vaccine storage facility in Ilorin, commending the state government for its support and cooperation.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, stated that the state government is actively strengthening livestock production and animal health services through its collaboration with L-PRES.
Thomas explained that the PVS program will deploy selected private veterinarians to work alongside government veterinary officers to provide professional animal health services across the state.
She added that the initiative will improve disease surveillance, increase vaccination coverage, strengthen outbreak response, and promote the responsible use of veterinary drugs.
Highlighting past achievements, the commissioner noted that over the past two years, the state government has implemented various interventions, including artificial insemination and the provision of water, feed, and pasture for pastoralist communities.
Demonstration farms have also been established, and livestock farmers have received equipment such as threshers, crushers, pelleting, and baling machines to support feed production.
According to her, veterinary clinics and slaughter facilities across the state have been renovated and equipped. She pointed out that more than 238,000 animals have been vaccinated, over 800 livestock value-chain players have been mapped and profiled, and more than 2,000 farmers have been trained under various interventions.
She concluded that improved animal health will translate into increased milk and meat production, better animal reproduction, improved livelihoods for livestock farmers, and a greater contribution of the sector to the state’s economy.
She charged the private veterinarians engaged under the program to carry out their duties with integrity and professionalism, describing them as crucial partners in livestock sector development.