The European Union(EU) says it is supporting Nigeria with 2.5 million pounds to develop its capacities towards addressing challenges of livestock diseases.
Mr Kurt Cornelis, EU representative in Nigeria, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, during the launch of the EU Support to Livestock Surveillance Knowledge Integration (LIDISKI) in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the funding would come directly from the EU Initiative on Climate-relevant Innovation Through Research in Agriculture and Food Systems in Developing Countries.
“The funding instrument has clear objectives that have been fully reflected in the design of the LIDISKI project for Nigeria.
“The project will be tackling viruses, planning against them and providing necessary capacity to defend those whose economic lifeline revolves around animal husbandry, consumers and the nation.
“The project demonstrates true partnership with Nigeria by the EU, because we believe Nigeria matters and whatever happens in Nigeria has wide ramifications across the continent,’’ he said.
He added that it was for this reason that the union worked very closely with technical persons within and outside Nigeria to identify the crucial challenges that herders and poultry farmers face.
Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the EU’s support on the project.
He said it would impact positively on income generation and livelihood at the grassroots and the overall growth of the Nigerian economy.
He said the ministry has adopted the National Strategy for control and eradication of sheep and cow diseases with support from World Organisation for Animal Health.
Nanono also affirmed the preparedness of the ministry through the department of Disease Control Services, to fully support the project to ensure its successful implementation.
Mrs Ijeoma Ohuruogu, Programme Manager of IKORE an international development organisation and one of the major implementing partners of the project said was aimed at controlling the spread of animal diseases.
She said this will be achieved through creating awareness among rural farmers and herders, training local community animal health workers, providing vaccines and engaging veterinary services at the grassroots.
Mr Onallo Akpa, Director-General of Poultry Association of Nigeria and one of the participants, said with livestock disease surveillance programme on board, they would be able to track the diseases.
He said the poultry diseases had done a lot of havoc to the poultry industry and that they shall do a follow up on the project to see how effective it shall be.
Mrs Lami Danburam, Deputy President of African Women Entrepreneurship Programme(AWEP), and a participant, said the programme would help to enlighten women on lifestock diseases.
“We’ll take back to our women knowledge on how to guard against the disease and other inputs,’’ she said.
The event had in attendance the Organisation Internationaled’ Epizooties representative,Dr Karim Tounkara, representatives of French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development(CIRAD).
Also in attendance were other key partners, IKORE, NVRI and IZSVe.
Also present was a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Dr Ife Arowosoge and Mr Muuir Douagu, representatives of the African Women Entrepreneurship Program among others.