Korede Abdullah 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria and Denmark have signed a new livestock safety pact aimed at strengthening food safety, combating animal diseases and boosting livestock productivity, as both countries deepen cooperation to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector and improve agricultural resilience.
The agreement, signed on Monday in Abuja between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, launches the second phase of the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) Programme in Livestock Production.
The new livestock safety pact is expected to expand collaboration in disease surveillance, veterinary regulation, antimicrobial resistance management, food and feed safety, climate adaptation and agricultural innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the renewed partnership builds on gains recorded during the first phase of the programme, which focused on strengthening institutional capacity and regulatory systems across the livestock value chain.
According to Maiha, the collaboration has already trained more than 100 Nigerian government officials in key areas including food and feed safety, animal disease surveillance, veterinary regulation, antimicrobial resistance management and climate-smart livestock practices.
He disclosed that Nigeria and Denmark have also launched a joint pilot programme on antimicrobial resistance in Oyo and Kano states, describing it as one of the most significant outcomes of the partnership.
The initiative comes amid growing global concerns over antimicrobial resistance, which health experts warn is reducing the effectiveness of medicines used to treat infections in both humans and animals.
Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, said the new phase of cooperation would shift from policy development to practical implementation, with greater emphasis on delivering measurable results for farmers and livestock communities.
“The new phase will focus more on practical implementation and delivering results on the ground,” Hansen said.
He explained that the programme would support disease prevention, strengthen biosecurity measures, improve surveillance systems and enhance support for livestock farmers and value chain operators across Nigeria.
Officials say the partnership is designed to improve animal health standards, increase productivity and strengthen food security while promoting safer agricultural practices.
Also speaking, Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Eva Edwards, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting cooperation in feed management, food safety systems, traceability mechanisms, veterinary drug regulation and data-sharing initiatives.
Project Manager at the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Alex Sigersen, expressed confidence that the programme would generate tangible benefits for livestock farmers and contribute to the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, NAFDAC, the Danish Embassy and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
The agreement underscores growing international efforts to strengthen food systems, improve disease control and enhance livestock production as Nigeria seeks to modernise one of its most important agricultural sectors.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Oluwatobi Adu