The Federal Government has flagged off a national anti-rabies disease campaign to safeguard animal and public health as part of activities to commemorate World Rabies Day.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, flagged off the campaign with a mass vaccination of dogs yesterday in Abuja alongside development partners.
Emphasising the importance of this year’s celebration theme, ‘You, Me and the Community,’ Maiha underscored the shared responsibility required to eliminate rabies in Nigeria.
He noted that, “Rabies elimination cannot be achieved by government efforts alone. It requires the active involvement of every citizen, policymakers, veterinarians, dog owners, hunters, teachers, parents, and indeed all members of the community.”
He said that to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against the disease, 26,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines have been procured by the government, which will be deployed immediately, especially to the eight states with the highest reported cases of rabies in the last six months.
The states include Lagos, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Cross River, Kano, Osun, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The minister further highlighted that, “Africa and Asia bear the greatest burden of rabies globally, with thousands of deaths recorded each year. Most of the victims are children under the age of 15, a reality that turns this entirely preventable disease into a recurring tragedy for families and communities.”
According to him, vaccines will also be allocated to 11 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals and three Federal Colleges of Animal Health and Production Technology across the country, just as the Ministry will be deploying technology to capture, in real time, all vaccinated dogs and cats.
He then assured that the federal government, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, remains firmly committed to achieving the global target of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by the year 2030.
While appreciating veterinary service providers, both public and private, as well as researchers and other players in the field, he pointed out that rabies is listed as one of the seven prioritised zoonoses.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Stephen Ohaeri, pointed out that the 2025 commemoration of World Rabies Day is a call to action for individuals, government, and communities.
Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Muhammed Inuwa, represented by the Director and Head of Public Health and Epidemiology, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, expressed optimism that the flag-off would translate into action.
Also speaking, National Project Coordinator, L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, pledged collaboration with the ministry to scale up vaccination programmes nationwide.
