The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has stepped up a nationwide vaccination drive against rabies, with teams deployed to several high-risk areas across the country.
The initiative follows the national flag-off of the campaign by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on 29 September 2025.
As part of the effort, a major vaccination exercise was held on 23 October 2025 across eight states: Bauchi, Cross River, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Kano, Lagos, Osun and Plateau. The campaign represents a renewed national commitment to the global objective of eradicating rabies by the year 2030.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, led the ministry’s team to Plateau State, where the official ceremony took place in Bassa Local Government Area. Bassa has recorded the highest number of rabies cases in the state this year, prompting authorities to prioritise the area for immediate intervention.
Dr Anzaku said the Federal Government remains determined to wipe out rabies across the country and called for collaboration from state governments, veterinary bodies and local communities.
He reminded participants that rabies prevention is a shared responsibility and requires collective effort to protect both people and animals.
Under the ministry’s One Health initiative, about 26,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines have been supplied for use in the eight targeted states. Plateau received 3,000 doses, while 1,200 doses were provided to the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital to support its ongoing vaccination and surveillance work.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Sunday Akpa, and the Chairman of Bassa Local Government Area, Dr Joshua Sunday Riti, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and pledged to continue the vaccination campaign across the state.
Representing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Prof Lami Hannatu Lombin, noted that Bassa Local Government Area alone has recorded 25 rabies cases this year, resulting in 12 deaths.
She described the situation as a serious public health concern and emphasised the need for sustained awareness and preventive measures.
Prof Lombin thanked the ministry for providing vaccines and assured that they would be properly used to strengthen the state’s rabies control efforts.
Those present at the flag-off included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock Matters, Dr Markus Avory; the Executive Assistant to the Governor, Efficiency Unit, Hon Gideon Agaldo; the Executive Director of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Dr Nicholas Nwankpa; and representatives of professional associations such as the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association.
Traditional rulers and community leaders also attended the event and pledged their cooperation in mobilising residents for vaccination. The delegation later inspected one of the cold storage facilities provided by the Norwegian Refugee Council for vaccine preservation in Plateau State.
