The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Friday said the newly commissioned 40 million-dose veterinary vaccine cold chain facility in Edo state “will significantly strengthen disease prevention, improve livestock productivity, and enhance food security in Nigeria.”
Maiha stated this while commissioning and hand-over of the newly constructed and equipped facility at the Edo Agric Hub and Livestock Processing Facility in Benin City.
He said, “Effective vaccination remains the most reliable and sustainable strategy for combating trans-boundary animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease, African Horse Sickness and African Swine Fever, which continue to threaten livestock production and farmers’ livelihoods.”
According to him, the solar-powered facility, with a storage capacity of approximately 40 million vaccine doses, will preserve vaccine potency, strengthen cold chain logistics and ensure timely distribution of quality vaccines to livestock farmers across the South-south region and beyond.
He added that the investment aligns with the global One Health agenda by promoting animal health, public health, food safety and environmental sustainability.
Also speaking, the Edo state Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Ignatius Ikponmwosa Omorodion, described the project as a “historic milestone” that would serve the six states of the South-south geopolitical zone and strengthen disease prevention efforts in the livestock industry.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the National Office for locating the facility in Edo state, assuring that the state government would protect and ensure its optimal utilisation.