FG CALLS FOR STRONGER BIOSECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE TO PROTECT NIGERIA'S PIG INDUSTRY FROM AFRICAN SWINE FEVER.

FG has reaffirmed commitment to strengthening biosecurity, disease surveillance, and stakeholder collaboration to safeguard Nigeria's pig industry against the growing threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Minister made this known on Tuesday 30th June , 2026, during a technical presentation on the current status of African Swine Fever in Nigeria.

He commended Dr. Yakubu Yanet Ago, for his comprehensive presentation and for sharing valuable lessons from his recent study visit to Denmark, where he observed internationally recognised best practices in pig production, disease prevention, and biosecurity management.

The Minister described the presentation , as insightful and emphasized that the knowledge and experiences gained should be translated into practical strategies capable of addressing Nigeria's livestock health challenges, particularly in strengthening the country's preparedness and response to African Swine Fever.

Drawing lessons from Denmark, the Minister highlighted the country's pig traceability and compensation system, where every pig is identified and tracked from birth until slaughter or export. 

He explained that  pig producers  contribute through statutory levies to a dedicated compensation fund, ensuring that farmers receive adequate support whenever disease outbreaks occur.

According to him, such  sustainable financing mechanism encourages timely disease reporting, enhances transparency, and provides an effective model that Nigeria can adapt.

The Minister further explained that , Denmark has instituted stringent biosecurity measures to prevent disease transmission, including protective fencing to restrict the movement of wild boars, mandatory cleaning and disinfection of vehicles transporting pigs before leaving farms, at border entry points, and before returning to production facilities.

He noted that strict compliance with these measures, supported by proper documentation and enforcement, has significantly strengthened disease prevention and should serve as a model for Nigeria's livestock sector.

The Minister, stressed that , biosecurity should be regarded as an investment rather than a burden on farmers.

He stated that , whenever disease outbreaks are reported in neighbouring areas, strict biosecurity protocols are immediately activated, including movement restrictions, controlled access to farms, and compulsory vehicle disinfection, measures that have proven effective in protecting livestock populations.

The Minister therefore , called for stronger disease surveillance systems, improved laboratory diagnostic capacity, and sustained investment in veterinary research to enhance the early detection, prevention, and control of transboundary animal diseases.

He also directed relevant departments within the Ministry to map livestock movement routes, identify major pig markets and commercial farms, strengthen animal traceability systems, and deepen collaboration with pig producer associations, state governments, and development partners to improve disease prevention across the pig value chain.

Earlier, the Chief Veterinary Officer and National Programme Coordinator,  Dr. Yakubu Yanet Ago, shared insights from his study visit to Denmark, where he observed how pig farmers collectively contribute to dedicated funds that support disease control programmes and reinforce biosecurity measures, particularly at national borders.

In his presentation, Dr. Ago described African Swine Fever as the pig industry's equivalent of Avian Influenza in poultry and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in small ruminants. He explained that ASF is a highly contagious viral transboundary animal disease with mortality rates of up to 100 per cent.

He disclosed that, outbreaks of the disease have been reported in about twelve states across the country and stressed that, since animal disease control is a shared responsibility under Nigeria's concurrent legislative framework, effective prevention, control, and eventual eradication of ASF require coordinated efforts by the Federal, State, and Local Governments.

Dr. Ago further noted that, the Federal Government's current ASF control programme focuses on strengthening biosecurity measures, improving surveillance, and training pig farmers on disease recognition and prompt reporting.

He identified major challenges confronting ASF control to include weak collaboration among the three tiers of government, inadequate funding, and limited stakeholder coordination.

As part of the way forward, he recommended that Nigeria align its ASF control strategy with global and continental frameworks, implement nationwide active surveillance, strengthen research on vaccines and vaccination, and mobilise adequate resources to support sustainable disease prevention and control.