FG pushes nationwide vaccination against cattle disease

By Ejire Folakunmi

The Federal Government has directed the Technical Working Group on Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP) to intensify nationwide vaccination efforts aimed at eradicating the disease in Nigeria.

CBPP is a bacterial disease of cattle that causes severe pneumonia, is often fatal, and leads to significant livestock production losses globally. Its outbreaks also pose threats to food security and livestock trade, particularly in endemic countries across Africa.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, gave the directive during the inauguration of the Technical Working Group on CBPP on April 10, 2026, in Abuja.

Maiha said CBPP remains endemic in Nigeria, posing a major challenge to the country’s goal of building a productive, resilient, and globally competitive livestock sector.

According to him, Nigeria has an estimated cattle population of over 50M, one of the largest on the African continent, which places a significant responsibility on authorities to effectively manage animal health risks.

“The epidemiological situation in 2025 underscores the urgency of this task. Several states have reported outbreaks of CBPP, with the disease cutting across all geopolitical zones.

“A total of 131 outbreaks have been officially documented, excluding unreported cases,” he said.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of stakeholders to tackling the disease, describing CBPP as one of the most persistent and economically damaging livestock diseases in the country.

He said the Technical Working Group would serve as a high-level platform to provide strategic direction for controlling the disease and improving national response efforts.

“The body is expected to guide the development of a coherent national control framework, strengthen surveillance systems, and improve the effectiveness of vaccination programmes nationwide,” Maiha said.

He added that the group would also support the modernisation of emergency response systems to ensure rapid containment of outbreaks.

Maiha further stressed the need for collaboration with livestock owners, private sector players, and international partners, noting that government efforts alone would not be sufficient.

“There is a need to enhance engagement with livestock owners and other stakeholders, whose cooperation is essential for success,” he stated.

The Minister urged the committee to study successful CBPP control strategies adopted by countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, which have been certified CBPP-free by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

“We must learn from countries that have successfully controlled the disease and adapt their strategies to our local context,” he added.

He emphasised that sustained progress would depend on stronger coordination between Federal and State governments, as well as broader stakeholder collaboration across the livestock sector.