By Saidu Adamu, Jalingo
The President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr. Moses Arokoya, said on Monday that about 65% of human diseases in Nigeria were linked to livestock.
Speaking at the association’s 61st Annual National Congress and General Meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, Arokoya said zoonotic diseases were rising in Nigeria, with an estimated 2.7 million people dying globally each year from such infections.
“The choice of Taraba for this conference is strategic,” he said, noting that a Disease-Free Zone (DFZ) would soon be established on the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area. “Eradicating diseases from the Mambilla Plateau will lead to the production of large quantities of fresh meat for export, which could generate foreign exchange for the country.”
Arokoya urged the creation of more DFZs nationwide to boost livestock production as a driver of economic growth.
He lamented the poor state of abattoirs across Nigeria, warning that inadequate facilities were contributing to microbial resistance. “Many Nigerians consume animals treated with drugs shortly before slaughter. We need modern abattoirs in all 774 local government areas to tackle this menace,” he said.
Arokoya commended President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms in the livestock sector but called for greater federal government support to empower veterinarians.
He also appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to include veterinarians in disaster intervention and emergency response policies. “Veterinarians must be part of national preparedness and response strategies,” he added.