Nigeria Moves Decisively to Tackle Livestock Diseases

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s livestock sector and strengthening food security through decisive action on animal health and disease management.

In furtherance of this priority, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Monday, 20th April, 2026, received a high-level delegation from Ambuvets Konsult and MCI Santé Animale, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja. 

This engagement comes at a critical time, as preventable diseases, including Peste des Petits Ruminants, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, continues to undermine productivity, erode farmer incomes, and threaten national agricultural resilience.

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, stressed that animal health is not ancillary, but foundational to Nigeria’s economic stability, public health, and national development.

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

This partnership he maintained , 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 further clarified that while the Ambuvets–MCI collaboration is privately driven, the role of government is clear and unwavering; to create the enabling environment, accelerate innovation, and support research and development efforts that deliver measurable impact for Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ambuvets Konsult, a Nigerian indigenous animal health company, Dr. Shehu Shamsudeen, outlined its partnership with MCI Santé Animale, a globally recognised veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer, to close longstanding gaps in vaccine availability. 

Under this collaboration,  he said, MCI will leverage its manufacturing expertise, while Ambuvets deploys its nationwide distribution network to deliver vaccines directly to farms, particularly smallholder operations that form the backbone of Nigeria’s livestock economy.

MCI Santé Animale further detailed its Africa-focused strategy with Nigeria being identified as a priority country. 

The company is advancing regulatory approvals, strengthening in-country partnerships, and investing in awareness, capacity building, and last-mile delivery systems to ensure that vaccines are not only available but effectively utilised at scale ,he stated.

Central to this effort is ongoing collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to conduct trials and validate vaccine efficacy under Nigerian conditions, with discussions underway on expanding into local manufacturing and deeper research partnerships.

On his part, the CEO of MCI Santé Animale, Dr. Tadlaoui Omari Khalid, emphasised the need for Africa-driven solutions to livestock health challenges.

“For me, it is to find the best solution for our continent. 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.”

“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.”

“Our focus is also on building local partnerships and strengthening distribution to reach farms, particularly smallholder farmers. By working with Ambuvets, we aim to optimize last-mile delivery and ensure farmers have access to quality vaccines,” Khalid said. 

The delegation also presented a portfolio of veterinary vaccines already registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), including, Ovivax PPR, Bovivax CBPP, LYOPOX (Sheep and Goat Pox Vaccine), LSD-N, LYOPOX + PPR (Bivalent Vaccine), Bovivax CBPP + LSD (Bivalent Vaccine), Bovipast (Pasteurella Vaccine), SYMPTOMUNE (Clostridium Vaccine) and Avivax ND-I2 (Thermostable Newcastle Disease Vaccine for avian species). 

These vaccines he said, are formulated using strains endemic to Nigeria, ensuring relevance, safety, and effectiveness in addressing local disease burdens.

Henrietta Okokon,
Deputy Director, 
Information and Public Relations
20th April, 2026