The Federal Government has said it is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organisation to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness, detection and response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza through a $350,000 intervention that will also train 240 animal health personnel.
The government disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday night following the inauguration of the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme Project on Strengthening HPAI Preparedness, Detection and Response in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to improve disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostic capacity, risk communication, and stakeholder coordination under the One Health framework.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, was quoted as saying that the poultry industry remains vital to Nigeria’s food security and economic growth but continues to face threats from transboundary animal diseases.
“The poultry industry remains a critical component of Nigeria’s livestock sector. However, it continues to face threats from transboundary animal diseases, particularly Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which has remained a recurring challenge since its first occurrence in Nigeria in 2006,” the minister said.
Maiha noted that the resurgence of the disease since 2021 has continued to affect poultry farmers across different scales of operation, with implications for food security and international trade.
“We are concerned because of the destructive effect of avian influenza in Nigeria. It is threatening livelihoods, threatening food security, and threatening international trade. We must work together to restore livelihoods, close gaps in poultry product supply, and reconnect our poultry industry to international markets,” he stated.
The minister commended the FAO for approving and funding the project, describing the intervention as timely and consistent with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen disease prevention and control within the livestock sector.
The statement also quoted the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, as saying that Nigeria has continued to record outbreaks of HPAI annually despite progress made in disease control.
“The epidemiology of the disease has evolved, with outbreaks now affecting multiple avian species. Layer farms remain the most severely impacted segment, resulting in substantial economic losses and disruptions across poultry value chains,” she said.
The FAO representative, Dr Otto Muhinda, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in combating transboundary animal diseases and building a resilient poultry industry.
“FAO is proud to partner with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and other stakeholders in building a more resilient poultry sector. Through this project, we aim to enhance Nigeria’s capacity for early detection, preparedness, and rapid response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, thereby protecting livelihoods, food security, and public health.
“Over the next nine months, the project will train 240 animal health personnel, contributing to a stronger frontline workforce capable of preventing and responding to disease outbreaks. It will also support the development of predictive tools to improve preparedness and reduce future risks of HPAI in Nigeria,” he said.
According to the statement, stakeholders including representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Environment stressed the need for collaboration in tackling disease outbreaks.
The ministry stated that Nigeria recorded confirmed outbreaks of HPAI in Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, and Bauchi states in 2026, underscoring the continued threat posed by the disease to the poultry industry, food security, and livelihoods.
It added that the FAO-supported intervention would be implemented in seven pilot states to strengthen disease surveillance, improve laboratory diagnostic capacity, enhance biosecurity measures, promote risk communication, and bolster rapid response mechanisms.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease caused by strains of the influenza A virus that primarily infect wild and domestic birds.
While it primarily spreads among avian populations, certain strains, such as H5N1, can occasionally infect humans and other mammals, primarily through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
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