4th February, 2020

Gombe begins vaccination of over 1 million cattle, sheep, goats against contagious diseases

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has restated his administration's determination to eradicate trans-boundary animal diseases through massive annual vaccination.

The Governor made the disclosure at the official flag- off of Annual Vaccination against Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia ( CBPP) in cattle and Pesti des Petits Ruminant ( PPR) in Sheep and Goats for the year 2019-2020 held in Gona Emirate, Akko Local Government Area.

He said Gombe state is committed towards reducing the impact of livestock diseases on peasant pastoralists, small scale and domestic animal rearers.

He assured that his administration is committed to sustaining the annual vaccination in order to improve animal health and boost livestock production in the state.

Governor Yahaya said the adaption of the national livestock transformation plan by his administration through the establishment of a model RUGA project at the Wawa Zange grazing reserve is aimed at creating employment opportunities, enhancing food security, reducing poverty and empowering the teeming youths across all segments of the agriculture value chain, which he noted will go along way in addressing perennial conflicts between farmers and herders.

He also tasked the officials in charge of the exercise to ensure transparent conduct, emphasising that his administration will not take it lightly with anyone found engaged in sharp practice during the vaccination programme.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry , Muhammad Magaji in his remarks, said the annual vaccination exercise had not been conducted in the past three years, which by implication brought a setback in the livestock sub sector ravaged by various contagious diseases.

The Commissioner said the prompt release of funds for the procurement of vaccines and other consumables by Governor Inuwa Yahaya will fastrack the rinderpest elimination campaign against the contagious diseases on domestic animals across the state.

Hr said the vaccination exercise which targets over 1 million cattle, sheep and goats across Gombe state will significantly improve the livestock sub sector in the areas of food security and other socio economic development.

He described Governor Inuwa Yahaya as Agric friendly governor who within his short stay in office recorded a number of achievement in the sector, including collaboration with federal ministry of Agriculture in piloting the RUGA initiative in the state, prompt procurement and distribution of fertilizer and other farm implements to farmers.

The Gombe State branch chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Malam Modibbo Yahaya, who thanked the state Governor for reviving the vaccination exercise, assured close collaboration with government officials and other stakeholders with a view to ensuring a hitch-free programme.

Ismaila Uba Misilli
Senior Special Assistant
( Media and Publicity)