Nigeria boosts livestock health response amid CBPP, FMD and PPR threats

NIGERIA – Nigeria is intensifying its focus on livestock health and food security through a new partnership between the Ministry of Livestock Development, Ambuvets Konsult, and MCI Santé Animale, on Monday, 20 April 2026 in Abuja.

The collaboration aims to address persistent disease pressures, specifically Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), by improving vaccine access and last-mile delivery to smallholder farmers.

Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha underscored that animal health is a central pillar of national development, with the government prioritising systems that control transboundary diseases and support local research.

“We are undertaking an ambitious transformation of the livestock sector, one in which disease prevention, control, and management are central pillars,” Minister Maiha said.

“This partnership strengthens our capacity to confront zoonotic and transboundary diseases and to ensure that Nigerian farmers have access to the vaccines they need to thrive.”

He added that the government’s role is to enable innovation, support research, and accelerate systems that improve delivery outcomes across the livestock value chain.

The engagement took place at a time when Nigeria is scaling up responses to multiple transboundary animal diseases, including Peste des Petits Ruminants, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and CBPP. 

Authorities have recently strengthened surveillance and control measures for CBPP following renewed outbreaks that have raised concerns among cattle producers and livestock traders, particularly due to productivity losses, mortality risks, and trade disruptions.

Strengthening vaccine access and local partnerships

Under the emerging partnership, Ambuvets Konsult, a Nigerian animal health company, will work with MCI Santé Animale to expand access to vaccines and improve last-mile delivery to farmers.

Dr Shehu Shamsudeen, Chief Executive Officer of Ambuvets Konsult, said the collaboration is designed to close long-standing gaps in vaccine availability, particularly for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Nigeria’s livestock economy.

“MCI will leverage its manufacturing expertise, while Ambuvets will deploy its nationwide distribution network to deliver vaccines directly to farms, particularly smallholder operations,” he explained.

He added that the approach is intended to improve coverage and reduce delays that often limit the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in rural areas.

MCI Santé Animale, which has identified Africa as a strategic priority, said Nigeria is central to its continental livestock health strategy. 

The company is advancing regulatory approvals, strengthening local partnerships, and investing in awareness creation, capacity building, and distribution systems to ensure vaccines reach end users effectively.

A key component of the strategy includes collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute to conduct local trials and validate vaccine performance under Nigerian conditions.

Discussions are also ongoing around potential local manufacturing and expanded research cooperation to deepen long-term capacity.

“For me, it is to find the best solution for our continent,” said Dr Tadlaoui Omari Khalid, CEO of MCI Santé Animale. 

“The big multinationals are not aware of our realities and will not help us, so we have to come together and find the right solutions for ourselves.”

He noted that product registration in Africa remains challenging but essential. 

“We have been investing in advancing product registration, and this is very important because it is the first step in any country. 

It is not easy, it is challenging and time-consuming, but we are glad to have achieved the target for the registration of some good products here in Nigeria.”

The company confirmed that several vaccines have already been registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, including solutions targeting CBPP, sheep and goat pox, lumpy skin disease, and Newcastle disease.

Officials say these developments mark a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s livestock health infrastructure, improving farmer resilience, and reducing losses from preventable diseases that continue to weigh heavily on production systems across the country.

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