As part of its resolve to ensure the country’s animal health sector is free from critical issues affecting it, the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT) Ogun State chapter, during its 2025 annual retreat, deliberated on ways to tackle the dreaded avian influenza, the disease which ravages birds.
The retreat with the theme: “Navigating the Endemic Nature of Avian Influenza in Nigeria: Strengthening Biosecurity,” held at Ogun State Veterinary Hospital Complex, Ita Eko, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, witnessed the presence and contributions of key stakeholders who shared their thoughts on different ways to tackle the animal disease.
In his welcome address, Chairman, NAAHT, Ogun State chapter, Prince Oyetunde Oyewumi, said:” It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2025 retreat of the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT), Ogun State Chapter”.
Today, we gather at the Ogun State Veterinary Hospital Complex, Ita Eko, Abeokuta, to address a critical issue affecting our nation’s animal health sector: Avian Influenza.
“The theme of our retreat is both timely and crucial. As we convene to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices, I am confident that our discussions will yield valuable insights and practical solutions to combat this disease”.
One of the speakers at the event, Mr Daniel Ogunleke, spoke extensively on the topic of discourse and shared some insights on how to tackle avian influenza with poultry farmers.
Director of Establishment, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Fashola Surajudeen, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, encouraged more participation and awareness via media in order to curtail the spread of the disease.
Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Folorunso Ogunnaike, encouraged the organiser to provide more technical information to farmers for better performance. Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter. Alhaji Yinka Lawal appreciated the organisers of the retreat for the great initiative to address this topical issue and seek collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT), Ogun State Chapter, alongside Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter.
The first outbreak of pathogenic Avian Influenza in Nigeria in 2006 was pandemic but now Endemic in nature. To ensure proper control of Avian Influenza, federal government maintained the no compensation policy with stamping out of affected farms and historical compensation.
This is to encourage reporting outbreak of Avian Influenza in Nigeria and compliance with control measures. However, farmers were not adequately compensated and later the federal government stopped compensating farmers with avian influenza outbreak in Nigeria and insisted on no vaccination policy against bird flu despite non-compensation of farmers whose birds were culled in Nigeria.
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