WOAH Praises Nigeria's Veterinary Services Reform Progress

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) commended Nigeria's significant progress in reforming its veterinary services, as presented in preliminary findings by Dr. Bouna Diop to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, in Abuja. This reform is part of Nigeria's broader effort to align its veterinary services with international standards, aiming to enhance the livestock sector's competitiveness.

The minister welcomed the findings, describing them as a valuable roadmap for strengthening Nigeria's veterinary architecture. He acknowledged the reforms undertaken by the federal government and reiterated the commitment to address identified gaps in collaboration with state governments, academia, and the private sector.

The report noted that while Nigeria has made significant strides, particularly with the establishment of livestock-focused ministries in eighteen states, challenges remain at the sub-national level, especially regarding workforce distribution and laboratory capacity. Recommendations were made for developing dedicated implementation plans to further strengthen veterinary services and increase investment in disease surveillance and laboratory networks.