FG Launches Tsetse Fly Eradication Campaign in Nigeria

The Federal Government is launching a comprehensive campaign to eradicate tsetse flies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, and Ogun states, focusing on livestock health and public safety. This multi-state intervention will occur simultaneously from April 20 to 24, 2026.

The initiative aims to combat diseases transmitted by tsetse flies, particularly trypanosomiasis, which affects both animals and humans. Field operations will include surveillance, community engagement, and vector control strategies, such as deploying biconical traps and fumigating high-risk areas.

The campaign will target rural livestock settlements and grazing reserves, with a specific focus on the Paikon Kore grazing reserve, which houses approximately 15,000 cattle. Dr.

Ozoemena Uch, Deputy Director and Coordinator of the Federal Epidemiological Unit, emphasized the broader implications of this exercise. Additionally, Moham Abubakar Bala raised concerns about other livestock diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, calling for sustained veterinary support and improved access to vaccines in Kogi state.