Livestock ministry intensifies nationwide vaccination against rabies

By Stella Odueme


Following the flag-off of the nationwide Rabies Vaccination Campaign by the l Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on 29th September 2025, the Ministry has deployed teams to eight high-risk states to intensify efforts toward eradicating the deadly virus.

The vaccination exercise, which held simultaneously across Bauchi, Cross River, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Lagos, Osun, and Plateau States on Thursday, marks a renewed national commitment to the global goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Samuel Anzaku, led the Ministry’s delegation to Plateau State, one of the areas with the highest reported cases of rabies.


A statement by the
Head, Press and Public Relations, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, said that the official flag-off was held in Bassa Local Government Area, which has recorded the highest number of infections in the state.

In his address, Dr. Anzaku reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to eliminate rabies nationwide and called for the sustained support of state governments, veterinary institutions, and communities to achieve the target.


“The theme of this year’s commemoration, you, me, and community, reminds us that rabies elimination cannot be achieved by government efforts alone. It is a shared responsibility and collective investment in the health and safety of our communities,” the CVON noted.

He further explained that as part of the Ministry’s intervention under the One Health framework, 26,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines have been procured for deployment to eight high-risk states, with Plateau State receiving 3,000 doses and 1,200 doses allocated to the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital to strengthen ongoing vaccination and surveillance efforts.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Sunday Akpa, and Bassa LGA Chairman, Dr. Joshua Sunday Riti, thanked the Federal Government for the intervention and pledged full support to sustain the rabies vaccination campaign across the state.


Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, the Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Prof. Lami Hannatu Lombin, disclosed that Bassa Local Government Area alone has recorded 25 cases of rabies in 2025, with 12 confirmed deaths, including a family of three who recently died after dog bites.

She described the incident as “deeply tragic” and stressed the urgency of intensifying vaccination and public awareness campaigns to prevent further loss of life.

Prof. Lombin, expressed appreciation to the Ministry for the timely intervention and assured that the vaccines would be used judiciously to support Plateau State’s ongoing rabies control efforts.


Dignitaries at the event included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock Matters, Dr. Markus Avory; the Executive Assistant to the Governor, Efficiency Unit, Hon. Gideon Agaldo; the Executive Director of NVRI, Dr. Nicholas Nwankpa; the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (Plateau State), Dr. Kumtap Yilji Cashmir; and the Chairman, NVMA Plateau State, Dr. Pam Luka.

Also in attendance were royal fathers, district and village heads who lent their support to the campaign. The team later inspected one of the six cold room facilities donated by the Norwegian Refugee Council for the storage of vaccines in the state.