New Livestock Facility Opens As Nigeria Steps Up Animal Health Efforts

The Nigerian Government, through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), has commissioned a Strategic Animal Resting Facility at Jaba-Jaba in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State to strengthen quarantine services, animal health surveillance and the safe movement of livestock along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon

The facility was commissioned by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, alongside the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Kaletapwa Farauta, as part of the Minister’s working visit to L-PRES intervention sites in the state.

Strategically located along the Nigeria-Cameroon border corridor, the facility provides an organised point where livestock in transit can be temporarily held, inspected and subjected to appropriate animal health and quarantine procedures before onward movement.

The intervention is particularly important in strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases, while improving disease surveillance, biosecurity and the monitoring of livestock movement across the international border.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister said; “the facility represents another important investment by the Federal Government in building a modern and resilient livestock sector, particularly through stronger animal health and quarantine systems.”

Maiha noted that “effective surveillance along border livestock corridors is critical to protecting Nigeria’s livestock population, safeguarding public health and facilitating safer livestock trade between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.”

The Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Kaletapwa Farauta, commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the World Bank and L-PRES for the investment, describing it as “an important contribution to the development of the livestock sector in Adamawa State.”

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to interventions in productivity, animal health, food security and the livelihoods of livestock producers across the state.

The National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, said; “the Jaba-Jaba facility forms part of the Project’s strategic investments aimed at strengthening livestock health infrastructure and improving the management of animal movement along major border corridors.”

He emphasised the need for the facility to be effectively utilised and sustainably managed to ensure that livestock producers, traders, veterinary authorities and border communities derive maximum benefit from the investment.

The Jaba-Jaba Strategic Animal Resting Facility is part of broader L-PRES interventions designed to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector through improved animal health services, stronger disease surveillance, enhanced biosecurity and investments that support safer and more productive livestock value chains.

The Jaba-Jaba facility follows the recent commissioning of a similar L-PRES Strategic Animal Holding Facility at the Etung–Ikom border corridor in Cross River State, another important international livestock route between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The two facilities form part of L-PRES investments to strengthen quarantine operations, disease surveillance, biosecurity and safer cross-border livestock movement at strategic entry points across the country.