Veterinarians seek reforms for food safety, disease prevention
Nigeria’s veterinary community has called for sweeping reforms, increased funding, and stronger institutional support as the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Veterinary Day 2026. Under
Nigeria’s veterinary community has called for sweeping reforms, increased funding, and stronger institutional support as the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Veterinary Day 2026.
Under this year’s theme, “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health,” the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) warned that the nation’s food systems, public health security, and environmental stability are under growing threat due to persistent underinvestment and weak policy implementation.
In a statement issued by its President, Moses Arokoyo, the association described veterinarians as central to food safety and disease prevention within an increasingly complex global health landscape.
The NVMA said veterinary professionals play critical roles across the food value chain, including livestock production, disease control, abattoir inspection, laboratory diagnostics, surveillance, and policy advisory. Despite these responsibilities, the association noted that the profession remains undervalued and insufficiently represented in national planning.
It stressed that veterinarians serve as a frontline defence against zoonotic diseases while ensuring the safety and sustainability of food systems from production to consumption.
The association further warned that emerging challenges such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and infectious disease outbreaks are blurring the boundaries between animal, human, and environmental health, making veterinary services more vital than ever.
Arokoyo noted that the global health system now operates within a One Health framework, where diseases can easily spread between animals and humans, often accelerated by environmental factors. He said veterinarians are increasingly pivotal in outbreak response, vaccination efforts, and surveillance systems aimed at preventing pandemics.
The NVMA also raised concerns over the absence of reliable data on Nigeria’s livestock sector, calling for a long-overdue national livestock census. It added that key interventions such as vaccination campaigns, outbreak containment, and meat inspection outcomes are poorly documented, weakening advocacy for funding and policy support.
The association urged practitioners to prioritise data collection and reporting, describing it as essential for demonstrating impact and attracting investment.
It also highlighted fragmentation across the country’s health and food systems, warning that siloed operations limit effective crisis response. The NVMA called for stronger integration of veterinary services into national and state-level health coordination platforms and emergency response frameworks.
While acknowledging the growing influence of technology in veterinary practice, such as digital disease tracking, portable diagnostics, and telemedicine, the association cautioned against unethical practices, including quackery and misuse of veterinary drugs, particularly antibiotics. It warned that such practices could worsen antimicrobial resistance and threaten both animal and human health.
The NVMA called for stricter regulation, improved professional accountability, and mentorship for early-career veterinarians.
Despite its strategic importance, the association said the sector continues to suffer from structural neglect. It urged the government to fully implement the National Veterinary Policy, recruit more veterinarians, and ensure adequate funding for vaccination programmes, abattoir upgrades, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.
Arokoyo emphasised that veterinarians play a largely unrecognised role in safeguarding national stability through their work in farms, clinics, laboratories, and abattoirs.
He appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen the workforce, warning that gaps in veterinary services could expose the country to preventable disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and economic losses.
As the global observance continues, the NVMA said World Veterinary Day should serve not just as a celebration but as a moment for reflection and renewed commitment to strengthening veterinary systems as a key pillar of public health and economic resilience.
The association concluded that veterinarians remain indispensable to protecting food systems, public health, and environmental sustainability, warning that continued neglect of the sector could have far-reaching consequences.
