From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has mobilised veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals within the Nigerian Police Force to strengthen livestock security and disease control across the country.
The initiative, launched during a two-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja, was organised under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES). It aims to improve animal health surveillance, enhance vaccination campaigns, and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the government planned to leverage the nationwide presence of police veterinarians to provide critical support in early disease detection, prevention, and rapid response. He described the approach as “a game-changer for livestock health and rural stability.”
According to the minister, more than 80 veterinarians and 70 veterinary paraprofessionals have already been deployed across all states.
“The Nigerian Police Veterinary Unit offers a unique advantage. They are strategically placed to monitor livestock health, support vaccination drives, and mediate farmer-herder conflicts at the community level”, he said.
While the initiative is a renewed effort to safeguard Nigeria’s livestock industry, Maiha added that the move reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening food security and protecting the nation’s agricultural assets through innovation and inter-agency collaboration.
“Our veterinarians are now frontline defenders of Nigeria’s food system”, the minister emphasised.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, also outlined the ministry’s ongoing nationwide initiatives to combat major livestock diseases such as Rabies, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). He stressed that integrating police veterinarians into these programmes would boost surveillance, prevent outbreaks, and improve response coordination.
Dr Anzaku commended the proactive stance of the Livestock Development Ministry, noting that disease prevention was key to improving livestock productivity and sustaining rural livelihoods.
“Resilience begins with preparedness. By combining veterinary expertise with law enforcement reach, we can protect both animals and communities”, he said.
Officials from the Nigerian Police and representatives of L-PRES expressed optimism about the new collaboration, describing it as a step forward in protecting Nigeria’s critical livestock infrastructure. They said the programme would enhance cooperation between veterinary services and security agencies nationwide.
