Nigeria Enhances Tsetse Fly Control to Protect Livestock

The Federal Government of Nigeria is intensifying its multi-state intervention to control the spread of tsetse flies, which are associated with diseases affecting both livestock and public health. This initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, targets grazing reserves and livestock settlements in high-risk corridors in Kogi and Ogun States.

The intervention combines surveillance, vector control, and community sensitization, as stated by Deputy Director of Information, Henrietta Okokon. The program aims to reduce the infestation levels of tsetse flies, which pose significant public health risks by transmitting trypanosomiasis.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to safeguard livestock products and prevent associated public health risks. The operation in Kogi State covers six local government areas, with officials emphasizing the urgency of the intervention to protect the livelihoods of herders.

The program also includes the deployment of physical and chemical control methods, such as traps and insecticide treatments, to eliminate tsetse flies effectively.