FCTA Launches Fight against Bird Flu, to Vaccinate Livestock

The FCT Administration has announced its plan to control the resurgence of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the territory.
FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello made this disclosure Friday after a meeting with the some senior workers of the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development.
He said the measures would entail the holistic fumigation of poultry farms across the territory in addition to the registration of poultry farmers in the entire 8,000 square kilometres area.

The minister, who was represented by the Acting Secretary of Agriculture and Rural development, Dr. Musa Abubakar Aliyu, said the annual vaccination and treatment of livestock herd in the FCT would begin later this month.

The exercise which was last held in 2013, will focus mainly on livestock in the grazing areas of Gwagwaglada, Old Gawu, Fulani herds in Abaji, Bwari, Karshi, Kwali, Kuje and Yaba.
It will be flagged off in Paikon-Kore Grazing Reserve in the Gwagwalada Area Council.
Bello described the programme as testimony of the commitment of FCTA towards reviving the agriculture sub-sector. He reiteratedt the readiness of the administration to support and encourage livestock farmers to embrace settlement in grazing reserves, saying this will prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases of livestock as well as provide treatment for the infected ones. He emphasised that the programme will create effective communication network and synergy with livestock farmers towards the growth of the livestock industry in the territory.

“This will not only generate employment to the teeming youth in the Federal Capital Territory but would also boost income and generate wealth especially for the livestock farmers,” he said.