Gbenga Odogun

The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (Kogi L-PRES) Project, has taken delivery of its allocated vaccines from the L-PRES National Coordination Office, Abuja for mass vaccination against major Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in Nigeria

The vaccination program under the L-PRES Project aims to improve animal health, enhance livestock productivity, food safety and security in Nigeria.

The vaccines were received on Thursday day in Lokoja, by the State Project Coordinator (SPC), Mr Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza Otaru and handed over to the Honourable Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin.

Dr Bolarin commended the Federal Government’s initiative, saying the vaccines will benefit livestock farmers; pastoralists, poultry and small ruminant farmers in the state.

“The impact of this initiative is an increase in the livestock productivity as it would improve animal health,” he said.

Mr. Otaru, the Project Coordinator, described the vaccine delivery as a “critical intervention” that would enhance livestock productivity in Kogi State.

According to him, the vaccines include 200,000 Doses of CBPP vaccines, 30,000 Doses of Newcastle Disease vaccines (NCDV), and 3,000 Doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines (FMDV).

The SPC explained that the vaccines would be administered to livestock at the 64 value chain clusters across the 21 LGAs of the state.

Mr Otaru noted that the vaccines would be stored in a cold chain facility established by the Kogi L-PRES project at the Ministry of Livestock Development in Kogi State.

He thanked the National Project Coordinator, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, for his result oriented leadership and the support to Kogi State.

Barr. Ken Agim, Legal Advisor, L-PRES Project, Abuja, who delivered the vaccines, stated that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s efforts to boost the livestock sector.

“The vaccines, procured by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development through L-PRES, aim to combat transboundary and other diseases affecting livestock nationwide.

“The vaccines are being distributed simultaneously to all 36 states and the FCT, expected to enhance livestock productivity, resilience, and contribute to the economy.

“This follows a similar distribution exercise in 2024, which yielded positive results in boosting livestock productivity,” Agim said.

The move is seen as a step towards controlling TADs and boosting livestock productivity in the state.