The Federal Government has expressed concern over the widespread misuse and circulation of substandard veterinary medicines in Nigeria, warning that the trend poses serious risks to livestock production and public health.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, raised the alarm during a stakeholders’ engagement held on Friday in Abuja.
Maiha stressed that the sustainability of the livestock sector depends heavily on the availability, accessibility, and proper use of safe and effective animal health products. However, he noted that the veterinary drug market is plagued by 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,” the minister said.
The minister also warned about the misuse of antimicrobials, noting that resistant pathogens can move between animals and humans.
“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,” he stated.
He described ensuring the safety and quality of veterinary medicines as a national security priority, emphasizing that effective disease control programmes depend on reliable veterinary products.
Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, underscored 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 counterfeit and invalid products.
“A bad vaccine is worse than no vaccine,” Anzaku cautioned, noting that farmers lose confidence when outbreaks occur among vaccinated animals.
He disclosed that Nigeria is pursuing local production of vaccines for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, adding that future policy decisions would be evidence-based and aligned with international standards.
Executive Director of NVRI, Dr. Nicholas Nwankpa, called for improved community-level vaccine delivery through Community Animal Health Workers, particularly in remote areas. He also proposed faster regulatory timelines and adoption of digital systems to improve vaccine approval processes.
Country Representative for Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode, said two recent studies on demand and supply constraints in Nigeria’s livestock sector revealed a significant gap in vaccine availability.
According to the findings, poultry alone requires about 165 million vaccine doses annually, yet domestic production meets only about a quarter of national demand during peak periods, forcing heavy reliance on imports.
“National vaccine supply currently meets only a small proportion of demand, necessitating urgent reforms,” she said.
Stakeholders at the meeting agreed on the need for coordinated action to address regulatory gaps, strengthen surveillance systems, and improve cold-chain accountability to safeguard Nigeria’s livestock sector.
