Livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom State have welcomed the Federal Government's tsetse fly surveillance and vector control programme, describing it as a major step toward improving livestock health and reducing the economic losses caused by vector-borne diseases.
The commendation came during a community engagement with cattle farmers at Itam, organised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) as part of the nationwide rollout of its Tsetse Fly Surveillance and Vector Control Programme.
Chairman of Cattle Farmers at the Itam Cattle Domain, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu Mijiawa, praised the ministry for prioritising vector-endemic communities, saying the intervention would reduce the cost of treating livestock affected by tsetse fly infestation and boost productivity.
He explained that the Itam Cattle Domain primarily serves as a sales and slaughter point, making it unsuitable for the installation of tsetse fly traps because of limited space.
Mijiawa, however, recommended nearby Nwaniba as a more suitable location for deploying the surveillance equipment and assured the ministry of the full cooperation of livestock farmers throughout the exercise.
The sensitisation team, led by Mr. Okoro Gilbert, visited the community to mobilise support for the programme, which aims to reduce the prevalence of tsetse flies and protect Nigeria's livestock industry from vector-borne diseases.
Speaking during the engagement, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mrs. Ikankeabasi Ukpong, said the Central Abattoir in Itam had been designated as one of the strategic locations for the surveillance exercise.
She urged livestock owners to cooperate with field officers to ensure effective surveillance and successful implementation of control measures.
Ukpong disclosed that Nigeria has identified 12 species of tsetse flies, with Glossina palpalis being the dominant species in the South-South region.
She said the surveillance programme would be conducted across Uyo, Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Mbo and Oron Local Government Areas, where cases of tsetse fly infestation have been reported.
According to her, the exercise will include the installation of tsetse fly traps, collection of vector samples for laboratory analysis and targeted fumigation of affected communities to reduce the spread of the disease vector and improve livestock health.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development said the programme forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen disease surveillance, enhance vector control, promote stakeholder collaboration and improve livestock productivity in support of Nigeria's food security objectives.