L-PRES launch campaign to curb spread of African Swine Fever in Nigeria

News in Brief

— The World Bank's L-PRES project and Nigeria's livestock ministry have launched a campaign against the spread of African Swine Fever. — It started at the Oke Aro Pig Farm Estate with the distribution of biosecurity kits and training for pig farmers.

The World Bank's Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has launched a campaign to fight the viral African Swine Fever (ASF) in Nigeria.

The campaign was launched at the Oke Aro Pig Farm Estate located between Ogun and Lagos. It began with the distribution of protective and disease control kits to farmers.

ASF is a highly contagious, lethal viral disease that affects pigs. It causes high mortality and economic losses on any farm it affects.

While the disease does not threaten humans, as it is not zoonotic, its lack of a cure often leads to culling and panic selling, increasing the economic loss.

Dr Sanusi Abubakar, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, said the campaign will prevent and control diseases to support livestock farmers.

He explained that it was important for Oke Aro Pig Farm, one of Nigeria's major pig production clusters. He also pointed to the farm's disease history as another reason for choosing it for the intervention.

Ministry Distributes Tools to Prevent African Swine Fever

Dr Abubakar revealed that the livestock ministry distributed biosecurity kits. They include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), boots, knapsacks, motorised sprayers, gloves, nose masks, protective goggles, CID 20 and Virocid disinfectants.

He noted that the intervention will also involve training on biosecurity measures and good farm practices.

“The intervention goes beyond distribution of materials. L-PRES will train pig farmers on critical biosecurity measures and good farm practices, including proper farm disinfection, correct use of PPE, movement control and farm hygiene,” Abubakar stated.

Pig Farmers Association Commend Initiative

Speaking on behalf of the farmers who welcomed the campaign, Mr Adebowale Ayodeji, President of the Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria, thanked the ministry and L-PRES project for the timely support.

Ayodeji said improved biosecurity, farmer training and access to disease-control materials would help farmers protect their animals and investments from ASF. He urged farmers to follow biosecurity practices such as regular disinfection and controlling animal and human movement on the farm.

In addition, the farmers' spokesperson stressed the need for a continuous awareness campaign for farmers in the Oke Aro pig farming community.

ASF Outbreaks in Nigeria Nigeria recorded several ASF outbreaks with severe episodes between 2019 and 2021, causing record losses, including at the Oke Aro pig farm.

A study of 62 farms involving 6,208 pigs in Ogun, Oyo and Lagos during the 2019–2021 outbreak recorded a 60.6 per cent mortality rate. Herd sizes fell by 92.1 per cent following mortality, panic sales and other emergency measures. The study estimated financial losses from pig mortality at ₦166.26 million during the period.

Plateau State reported a recent outbreak in July, where thousands of pigs died, and hundreds of farms suspended operations. Another outbreak in the Ikangba/Agoro area of Ogun State in September led the livestock ministry to call for an emergency response to curb the spread of the disease.