FG Warns Against Misuse of Veterinary Drugs

The Federal Government has raised alarm over the growing misuse of veterinary medicines, citing concerns about their circulation, quality, and improper application across the livestock sector.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, voiced the concern during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja. He stressed that the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s livestock industry depends on the availability, accessibility, and responsible use of safe and effective animal health products.

Maiha identified key challenges within the veterinary drug market, including the proliferation of substandard and falsified products, weak regulatory compliance, and insufficient oversight of manufacturing and distribution channels.

According to him, many livestock farmers unknowingly purchase low-quality drugs, resulting in treatment failures, financial losses, and preventable animal deaths.

He also cautioned against the misuse of antimicrobials, warning that drug-resistant pathogens can spread between animals and humans. “This is not just an animal health issue; it is a public health and environmental concern that demands urgent collective action,” he said.

The minister described the safety and quality of veterinary medicines as a matter of national security, noting that effective control of major livestock diseases relies heavily on dependable veterinary products. He called for stronger collaboration among regulatory bodies, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and veterinary professionals.

Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, highlighted the strategic role of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in safeguarding livestock through locally produced vaccines. However, he warned that the vaccine market is increasingly undermined by counterfeit and ineffective products.

“A bad vaccine is worse than no vaccine,” Anzaku said, explaining that farmers lose confidence when disease outbreaks occur in animals that were supposedly vaccinated.

He revealed that Nigeria is exploring local production of vaccines for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, adding that any future policy decisions would be guided by scientific evidence and international best practices.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of NVRI, Dr. Nicholas Nwankpa, underscored the need to strengthen vaccination delivery at the grassroots level, particularly through Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in rural and hard-to-reach areas. He advocated streamlined regulatory timelines and the adoption of digital systems to improve vaccine approval processes.

Country Representative for Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode, said recent studies examining supply and demand challenges in the livestock sector prompted the current discussions. The findings showed that vaccine demand remains high across livestock categories, with the poultry sector alone requiring an estimated 165 million doses annually.

However, local production currently meets only about 25 percent of national demand during peak periods, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports.

“National vaccine supply currently satisfies only a fraction of demand, making urgent reforms necessary,” she stated.

Participants at the meeting agreed on the need for coordinated efforts to strengthen regulatory systems, enhance disease surveillance, improve cold-chain management, and close gaps in vaccine distribution across the country.