FG Unveils High-Level Task Force to Tackle Deadly Cattle Disease Nationwide
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
In a decisive move to combat the persistent threat of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to coordinate a national response aimed at controlling and eventually eradicating the disease across Nigeria.
The announcement was contained in a press statement issued by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, following the inauguration ceremony led by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, in Abuja on April 9, 2026.
Speaking at the event, Maiha described CBPP as a major impediment to Nigeria’s livestock productivity, noting that the disease remains endemic and continues to threaten the country’s ambition for a resilient and globally competitive livestock sector.
“Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia remains endemic in Nigeria and continues to challenge our aspirations for a productive, resilient, and globally competitive livestock sector,” the minister said.
He revealed that Nigeria’s cattle population stands at approximately 54.5 million—one of the largest in Africa—underscoring the urgent need for effective animal health management systems.
Citing recent data, the minister disclosed that at least 17 states have recorded outbreaks of CBPP, with the disease now affecting all six geopolitical zones. “A total of 131 outbreaks of CBPP have officially been documented in Nigeria, though this represents only a portion of the true burden due to limitations in surveillance and reporting,” he added.
Maiha attributed the continued spread of the disease to factors such as uncontrolled livestock movement across transhumance routes, inadequate vaccination coverage, and weak early detection systems.
“If left unchecked, these factors will continue to enable silent transmission, periodic outbreaks, and sustained economic losses to livestock owners and the broader national economy,” he warned.
He stressed that the implications of CBPP extend beyond animal health, impacting food security, rural livelihoods, and Nigeria’s participation in regional and international livestock trade.
The minister explained that the newly inaugurated Technical Working Group is designed as a high-level strategic platform, not a routine committee, tasked with developing a coherent and implementable national control framework.
“This group will strengthen surveillance architecture, improve vaccination programmes, and support the modernization of our diagnostic systems,” Maiha stated, while also emphasizing the need for collaboration with livestock owners and stakeholders.
He assured members of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening animal health systems but cautioned that government action alone would not suffice. “The complexity of CBPP requires shared commitment from all actors within the livestock value chain,” he said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chinyere Ijeoma Akuiobi , described CBPP as a significant challenge to livestock farmers and expressed optimism that the Technical Working Group would drive meaningful progress.
“Through this Technical Working Group, we are hopeful to leverage experience and collaborate to develop strategies to control, prevent, and eventually eradicate this disease,” she said.
Also speaking, the Nigeria Country Director of the World Health Organization, Lacimikant Chavan, highlighted the broader public health implications of disease outbreaks, noting that about 60,000 lives are lost annually in Nigeria.
He called for strengthened surveillance systems and alignment of CBPP monitoring efforts with national health frameworks. “We will continue to support and remain fully committed to the Ministry in the fight against the scourge of CBPP,” Chavan pledged.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Nigeria Veterinary Association , Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Ngeria, the Butchers’ Association, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and the World Organization for Animal Health, all of whom expressed support for coordinated efforts to tackle the disease.
