The Federal Government, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has called for stronger measures to contain avian influenza through tighter control of livestock movement, strict biosecurity protocols, enhanced surveillance and deeper collaboration across the poultry value chain.
Mitchell Alao, national programme coordinator of the Avian Influenza Control Programme at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, made the call at a workshop on strengthening the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, recently.
Alao, who is also head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, stressed that NAQS plays a critical role in restricting animal movement during outbreaks, noting that effective controls are essential to stop infected birds from spreading the disease to unaffected areas.
He identified disease surveillance, risk communication and sustained stakeholder engagement as key tools for containing outbreaks, with animal movement control remaining central to the strategy.
‘The Quarantine Service is there to ensure that affected birds are not moved out of locations where an outbreak has occurred,’ he said.
He emphasised the need to build institutional capacity and deepen collaboration with security agencies and other government bodies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, state governments and local authorities.
‘Such partnerships would improve regulatory compliance, enforcement and coordinated responses nationwide,’ he said.
Otto Vianney, FAO country team lead for Livestock in Nigeria, said the organisation had developed a digital tool for collecting global data on animal movement to improve monitoring and tracking.
Vianney explained that the workshop aimed to assess how animal movement contributes to the spread of animal diseases in Nigeria, while also strengthening public awareness, community education and understanding of preventive measures.
He outlined the four pillars of the Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP) Framework: prevention and preparedness; early detection and early response; eradication and recovery; and coordination and communication.
He noted that these pillars would provide a structured approach to managing animal health emergencies and reducing the impact of outbreaks.
Shehu identified key priorities for a productive and profitable poultry sector as strict enforcement of biosecurity during animal movement, proper documentation, regular updating of designated control posts, prevention of illegal transportation, promotion of public-private partnerships, technology integration and full compliance with existing regulations.
However, he highlighted challenges facing the agency, including porous alternative routes, poor regulatory compliance, inadequate infrastructure and the inherent risks of transporting live animals.
A major highlight of the workshop was an inspection visit to the Garuku Toll Gate along the Akwanga Road in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where officers assessed animal movement procedures and the effectiveness of existing monitoring measures.