FCT vaccinates over 20, 000 livestock, combats bird flu, army worms in Abuja ―Minister

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has stated that his administration has successfully vaccinated over 20,000 livestock in the territory so as to boost and ensure sanity in the handling of animal products in the area.

He also disclosed that his administration has successfully combated diseases such as bird flu and army worms within the territory.

Malam Bello further said as part of efforts aimed at mitigating the challenge of illegal grazing in the territory, his administration had already constituted a high-powered ministerial committee to fast-track the development of the four grazing reserves provided in the FCT Master Plan.

The minister made this known during the national conference on the transformation of the Nigerian livestock industry, held in Abuja.

According to him, “recently more than 20,000 livestock were vaccinated in a two-week intensive campaign carried out by the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat.”

Represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, the minister further revealed that his administration was collaborating with the Cattle Breeders in the territory to fashion out cutting-edge solutions to the challenge of cattle rustling and illegal grazing in the city.

“The FCT Administration has proactively set up a Ministerial Committee on the development of the four Grazing Reserves provided for in the FCT Master Plan.

“Furthermore, discussion is on with Danish Company for the development of the Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve into a world class reserve as a model while provision has been made for adequate compensation to the affected farmers”, he added.

In his remark, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe said the conference was apt and expressed hope that it would address all the aspects of solutions required in the enhancement of livestock industry.

Chief Ogbe further explained that President Muhammadu Buhari led government was making serious efforts to ensure that the livestock industry became the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

In his own, the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu canvassed for policies and programmes aim at promoting the livestock industry.