Health
Gombe begins mass livestock vaccination
Chima Azubuike
The Gombe State Government has commenced a statewide vaccination campaign targeting major livestock diseases to protect livestock, strengthen food security and safeguard human health.
These diseases include Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Peste des Petits Ruminants.
The campaign, which covers cattle, sheep and goats, was flagged off on Wednesday by the Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, at Tumfure Bashar along the Gombe-Biu bypass in the Akko Local Government Area of the state.
Jatau called on local government chairmen, traditional rulers, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, farmers and other stakeholders to support the vaccination exercise.
Speaking at the ceremony, Jatau said, “The importance of livestock production as a source of economic livelihood and essential nutritional needs for humans cannot be overemphasised.”
“It is now my singular honour to flag off the 2025/2026 annual statewide vaccination campaign in the desire for continuous improved health of animals in our environment, benefit to mankind and above all to the glory of our Creator,” he declared.
According to him, healthy livestock translates to healthy food, better economic returns for farmers and reduced risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to humans.
The deputy governor said livestock production was also an important avenue for diversifying the state and national economy, stressing that many residents depended on the sector for employment and income.
He said the state government had taken several measures to strengthen animal health services, including the creation of the
Ministry of Livestock Development, renovation and equipping of veterinary clinics, construction of a veterinary diagnostic laboratory and a solar-powered cold-chain facility.
Jatau added that the state government had also established livestock training centres and sustained annual vaccination campaigns against animal diseases.
He disclosed that work had begun on an 184-hectare Special Livestock Development Zone, which would include an ultra-modern abattoir, tannery, international livestock market, veterinary hospital, poultry production facilities, and an inland dry port.
“This is very important as it will save my cousins from carrying live animals to other parts of the country, in the midst of various inconveniences and sometimes accidents on the road,” Jatau said.
He also disclosed that the government had constituted a Farmers-Herders Resolution Committee to address conflicts and facilitate the re-demarcation and marking of cattle routes and grazing reserves across the state.
The deputy governor urged livestock owners and herders to cooperate with veterinary officials and use designated cattle routes.
He said, “The continuous use of the main roads has led to the collapse of many roads, starting from the shoulders of the road. Of course, this creates maintenance costs for the government.”
Also speaking, the Gombe State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Salisu Alkali, said the creation of the ministry demonstrated the administration’s recognition of livestock as a major driver of economic growth.
Alkali said the government had remained committed to preventive animal healthcare through regular vaccination, disease surveillance and improved veterinary services.
He said the campaign was particularly important because the exercise coincided with the harvest season, when increased movement of livestock from neighbouring states could heighten the risk of disease transmission.
He said the interventions had contributed to a significant decline in livestock mortality in the state, “from 28.1 per cent in 2022 to 12.2 per cent in 2025.”
According to him, the government was also developing livestock production and processing facilities to strengthen the value
chain, create jobs and reduce losses associated with transporting livestock and raw animal products outside the state.
Alkali described the Special Livestock Development Zone as one of the administration’s most ambitious projects, saying it would provide facilities for livestock production, processing, marketing and export.
He said the facilities would “move livestock production beyond subsistence systems towards a more organised, commercial and value-driven industry.”
Earlier, the State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Abdulhamid Garba, said the vaccination campaign represented a collective commitment to protecting livestock resources, farmers’ livelihoods, food security and public health.
Garba called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state ministries of livestock development, local governments, veterinary professionals, farmers, traditional and community leaders, development partners and the private sector.
He urged farmers to make their animals available for vaccination, report suspected disease outbreaks promptly, and avoid purchasing veterinary medicines and vaccines from unapproved sources.
Garba said the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development was committed to working with the Gombe State Government to achieve broad vaccination coverage across the state.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: health_wise@punchng.
