Chukwu Obinna 
NASARAWA, Nigeria – The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has launched a free mass vaccination campaign against rabies in Nasarawa State as part of national efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Akun Area Council on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary Chinyere Akujobi—represented by Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Samuel Anzaku—said rabies remains one of the most fatal but preventable zoonotic diseases. “Rabies is 100 percent fatal, but fortunately, it is also 100 percent preventable,” she noted.
Akujobi said the campaign aligns with the global World Rabies Day theme, “You, Me and Community,” emphasising that effective rabies control requires cooperation from citizens, veterinarians, health authorities and pet owners.
“Rabies elimination is a shared responsibility. Communities must take ownership for this to succeed,” she said.
She revealed that 26,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines have been procured for the first phase, prioritising dogs and cats—the primary transmitters of the virus to humans in Nigeria. Most victims, she added, are children under 15.
Director of Veterinary Services in Nasarawa, Musa Abdullahi, urged pet owners to bring their animals for vaccination. “This exercise can save lives and shield families from tragic loss,” he said.
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