The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has raised an alarm over the abuse of veterinary drugs and the proliferation of quacks in the livestock sector. It warned that these practices could worsen antimicrobial resistance in animals, posing significant risks to food safety and public health.
Concerns Over Structural Neglect
NVMA also complained about what it termed structural neglect, calling for the full implementation of the National Veterinary Policy. It stressed the need for adequate staffing of veterinary departments at both state and local council levels, as well as sustainable funding for critical interventions.
World Veterinary Day 2026 Address
The association's National President, Moses Arokoyo, highlighted these hiccups during the World Veterinary Day 2026 celebration, themed 'Veterinarians: Guardians of Food & Health.' He emphasized the role of veterinarians in safeguarding food systems and preventing disease outbreaks.
Proposed Solutions
As a way out, Arokoyo suggested routine vaccination programmes, abattoir rehabilitation, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. He warned that failure to address these gaps could expose the country to preventable disease outbreaks, food security risks, and grave economic losses.
Arokoyo stressed the need for stricter regulation, professional accountability, and stronger mentorship for young veterinarians. He described veterinarians as the backbone of food safety and disease prevention, operating in an increasingly complex global health environment.
Veterinarians' Role in Food Value Chain
According to him, veterinary professionals play a central role across Nigeria’s entire food value chain, from livestock production and disease prevention to abattoir inspection, laboratory diagnostics, surveillance systems, and policy advisory functions.
“From farm to fork, from laboratory to legislation, the veterinary profession underpins the safety, security and sustainability of food systems while standing as the first line of defence against zoonotic disease threats,” he said.
Furthermore, it was pointed out that the world is now firmly operating within a one health framework, as diseases can move rapidly between animals and humans, with environmental factors accelerating transmission.
