FG cautions public on veterinary drug misuse

The Federal Government has expressed concern about the public’s misuse of veterinary medicines, highlighting serious issues with their circulation and misuse.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, raised the concern at a stakeholders’ engagement held on Friday in Abuja.

The minister noted that the sustainability of the livestock sector relies heavily on the availability, accessibility, and proper use of safe and effective animal health products.

He pointed out that the veterinary drug landscape faces significant challenges, including the prevalence of substandard and falsified products, weak regulatory compliance, and inadequate oversight of manufacturing and distribution channels.

“Many livestock farmers unknowingly purchase poor-quality drugs, leading to treatment failure, economic losses, and avoidable livestock mortality,” Maiha remarked.

The minister also warned about the dangers of antimicrobial misuse, pointing out that “resistant pathogens do not respect the boundary between animals and humans. This is not only an animal health issue but a public health and environmental concern that must be addressed collectively and urgently.”

Maiha pointed out the importance of ensuring the safety and quality of veterinary drugs, calling it a national security priority.
He said that effective disease control programs for key livestock diseases depend on reliable veterinary products.

The minister said, “We need stronger coordination across regulatory agencies, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and veterinary professionals.”

Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, explained the strategic role of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in protecting livestock through locally produced vaccines.

He warned that Nigeria’s vaccine market is increasingly compromised by invalid and counterfeit products.

Anzaku cautioned that “a bad vaccine is worse than no vaccine,” noting that farmers’ confidence is threatened when outbreaks occur in vaccinated animals.

Dr. Anzaku disclosed that Nigeria is pursuing local production of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza vaccines and emphasised that any future policy decisions would be evidence-based and aligned with international standards.

Executive Director of NVRI, Dr. Nicholas Nwankpa, stressed the need to strengthen community-level vaccination delivery through Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), particularly in remote areas.

He proposed improving regulatory timelines and adopting digital systems to enhance vaccine approval efficiency.

Country Representative for Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode said two studies examining the demand and supply constraints in Nigeria’s livestock sector have brought forth the current discussion on the vaccines.

The studies revealed that annual vaccine demand is high across various livestock categories, with poultry requiring approximately 165 million doses.

However, domestic production satisfies only about a quarter of national requirements during peak periods, leading to a heavy reliance on imports.

“National vaccine supply currently meets only a small proportion of demand, necessitating urgent reforms,” she stated.

Stakeholders at the meeting agreed on the need for coordinated actions to close system gaps, improve surveillance, and enhance cold-chain accountability.