Moses Arokoya, president of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has revealed that about 65 percent of human diseases in Nigeria are zoonotic, originating from animals. Speaking on Monday during the 61st Annual National Congress and General Meeting of the NVMA held in Jalingo, Arokoya noted that zoonotic infections are on the rise across the country, contributing to an estimated 2.7 million deaths globally each year.
He explained that the choice of Taraba State as the venue for the conference was deliberate, as plans are underway to establish a disease-free zone (DFZ) on the Mambilla Plateau. According to him, eliminating diseases from the area would pave the way for the large-scale production of fresh meat.
Arokoya emphasized the need for more disease-free zones nationwide to transform livestock production into a driver of economic growth. He also criticized the poor state of abattoirs across Nigeria, noting that unhygienic slaughterhouses have worsened microbial resistance because many Nigerians consume meat from animals treated with drugs shortly before slaughter.
He called for the construction of modern abattoirs in all 774 local government areas to tackle this public health challenge.
The NVMA president also commended President Bola Tinubu for his ongoing reforms in the livestock sector but appealed for greater federal government support to empower veterinarians.
Additionally, Arokoya urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to include veterinarians in its disaster response policies, stressing that their expertise is vital in emergency preparedness and response strategies.
