Nigeria’s veterinarians have outlined bold reforms to strengthen animal health, food safety, and national development, as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) concluded its 61st Annual National Congress and AGM in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Themed “Animal Health, Food Safety and Security: Ensuring a Healthy and Productive Nigeria,” the three-day event gathered hundreds of delegates — including veterinary experts, policymakers, researchers, and students — to chart a new course for the nation’s livestock and food systems.
In one of the congress’s landmark resolutions, the NVMA approved a ₦200,000 minimum monthly salary for new veterinarians in private practice, describing it as a step toward restoring professional dignity and welfare equity.
NVMA President, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, emphasized that Nigeria’s vast livestock population — estimated at over 400 million — remains underutilized due to the absence of veterinary services at the grassroots. He called on the Federal Government to implement the 65-year retirement age for veterinarians and urged states to domesticate the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) for better livestock governance.
Dr. Arokoyo also urged authorities to declare a state of emergency on abattoirs, insisting that all slaughter operations must be under veterinary supervision to safeguard public health.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State, Dr. Jonathan Wasa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, highlighted Niger State’s ongoing livestock transformation initiatives, including the employment of veterinary professionals and the introduction of the VIPTAMS system for disease traceability and movement control.
He reaffirmed the importance of the One Health approach — integrating animal, human, and environmental health — as key to sustainable food security and economic resilience.
The congress also launched a 33-member NVMA Think Tank to craft a long-term strategic roadmap for the veterinary profession and unveiled a new NVMA Lapel Pin, symbolizing a renewed professional identity under the slogan “Veterinarians: Safeguarding Animal and Public Health.”
Technical sessions addressed issues such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), zoonotic disease surveillance, and livestock vaccination under the GALVmed VITAL 2 Project. Recommendations included stronger disease surveillance, regional coordination, improved biosecurity, and regulation of antimicrobial use.
In its final communiqué, signed by Dr. Grace Sabo Nok (Chairman), Dr. Abdulkadeer Umar Baba (Secretary), and Dr. James Clinton Shawulu (Member), the NVMA pledged to advance policies that promote safe food, healthy animals, and a resilient economy.
From the energy and optimism in Jalingo, one message was clear — Nigeria’s veterinarians are reclaiming their place at the heart of national development, as guardians of health, food security, and sustainable growth.
