To strengthen Nigeria’s livestock sector, the Federal Government has launched the 2026 Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases Vaccination exercise and commissioned the L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital in Sokoto State.
At the nationwide vaccination campaign in Sokoto, the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Muktari Maiha, said the programme would be implemented across all states by trained veterinary teams, stressing that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that “no community was left behind.”
The minister commended the Sokoto State Government for its cooperation and support for federal livestock initiatives, urging livestock owners to present their animals for vaccination and to cooperate fully with veterinary officers during the exercise.
Hon. Maiha also expressed satisfaction with the commissioning of the L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital, describing it as “a state-of-the-art facility” that would deliver quality veterinary services to farmers and pastoralists.
He charged the management and staff of the hospital to uphold best practices and ensure services that meet the needs of livestock producers.
In his remarks, the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, expressed appreciation that Sokoto was selected to host the national flag-off, describing the programme as “timely,” especially at a period when livestock diseases had caused significant losses to farmers and pastoralists.
Governor Aliyu highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to improve animal health services, including the upgrading of veterinary clinics and the recruitment of additional veterinary officers.
He assured that the state would continue to partner with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and development agencies to modernise livestock production.
The governor also welcomed the commissioning of the L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital, describing it as “a significant milestone” in the state’s drive to enhance veterinary service delivery and boost the growth of the livestock.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, represented by the District Head of Kilgori, Dr. Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori, expressed support for the programme and commended the Federal Government for its commitment to improving the livestock sector.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, thanked the Governor and the Federal Government for their support, noting that the L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital was “a key component of the programme,” designed to provide quality veterinary services to farmers and pastoralists.
The nationwide vaccination campaign is expected to cover millions of animals and will be supported by public sensitisation on animal health, biosecurity, and disease reporting.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would boost meat and milk production, enhance trade, and contribute significantly to national food security.
With the commissioning of the L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital and the flag-off of the 2026 Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases Vaccination, Sokoto State is taking proactive steps to address critical challenges in the livestock sector.
