Bird flu impact low on 42bn birds produced annually

Out of the estimated 4.2 billion birds produced annually in the country, a mere 748,428 have died as a result of being infected with avian influenza (bird flu) or killed to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The number of poultry deaths due to the disease is about 17 out of every 100,000 birds produced in the country.

This is based on figures released in January ending by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the outbreak of the disease which came to the fore at the beginning of this year. Abdulganiyu Abubakar, chief veterinary officer for Nigeria and director, veterinary services of the agric ministry, gave these current figures.

Abubakar said a total of 748,428 birds were exposed while 668, 791 were depopulated, which is killed by agric health officials as part of measures to control the disease.

He further said only 79, 637 birds died from the infection.

Read also: Nahcoaviance to increase handling tariff over high cost of operations

Findings of the National Office of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) presented by Olufemi Faniyi, Southwest president of the association, show that about 0.25 million metric tons of chickens are produced annually in Nigeria.

Each bird at one day old weighs about 60 grams, putting the number of chickens produced annually at an estimated 4.2 billion.

The outbreak of the disease which extended to 17 of the 36 states excluding the FCT, was confirmed by Akinwumi Adesina, minister of agriculture and rural development. The states include Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Imo, Oyo and Jigawa.

According to Adesina, Avian influenza can not be transmitted to human consumers as long as poultry is thoroughly cooked.

The bird flu epidemic was contained this time, due to deep cooperation between the agric ministry, ministry of health and poultry farmers, unlike in 2006 when it ran down the poultry industry.

Ayoola Oduntan,  national president of, the Poultry Association of Nigeria, said in a telephone interview, that poultry farmers resolved firmly to step up biosecurity measures which are preventive measures taken to protect the transmission from one farm to another.

Oduntan said, “Poultry farmers all over Nigeria are stepping up biosecurity measures. We have also had several meetings with the agric minister and his team and they have made a firm commitment to tackle the problem.

“We the poultry farmers are also fully committed to combating the disease.”

OLUYINKA ALAWODE & JOSEPHINE OKOJIE