Minister urges police veterinarians to step up livestock protection efforts

Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of Livestock Development, has called on veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals serving in the Nigerian Police Force to leverage their nationwide presence in safeguarding Nigeria’s livestock industry.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Abuja, Mukhtar urged the officers to use their field experience to enhance disease surveillance, support vaccination campaigns, and help prevent farmer-herder conflicts.

The Minister emphasised that the strategic deployment of veterinary professionals within the Police Force provides a unique opportunity to strengthen livestock health and security across the country.

“With more than 80 veterinarians and over 70 veterinary paraprofessionals in the Nigerian Police Force, your boots are already on the ground in every state.

“I urge you to use that presence to strengthen disease surveillance, support vaccination campaigns, and intervene early where tensions between farmers and herders begin to surface. Your contribution is vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s livestock sector and securing our national food system,” he said.

Mukhtar also directed Samuel Anzaku, chief veterinary officer of Nigeria (CVON), to ensure the active participation of police veterinary officers in ongoing nationwide vaccination and surveillance campaigns against transboundary animal diseases.

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Aishatu Baju Abubakar, AIG, representing the Inspector General of Police, commended the Minister’s leadership and lauded the partnership with L-PRES, describing it as a strategic intervention for food security and peacebuilding.

Anzaku, in his remarks, outlined current national efforts to combat priority animal diseases such as Rabies, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), noting that stronger coordination among stakeholders is key to success.

Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the National Project Coordinator, Mustapha Mohammad encouraged participants to promote inter-agency collaboration and protect L-PRES facilities and infrastructure nationwide.

The workshop, themed “Disease Surveillance and Reporting, Farmer-Herder Conflict Resolution, and Professional Wellness,” brought together veterinary officers from across Nigeria to share best practices and build capacity for improved livestock resilience.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.