The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Monday ramped up a coordinated, science-driven campaign to combat tsetse fly infestation and the diseases it transmits across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, and Ogun states.
The multi-state intervention carried out simultaneously from April 20 to 24, 2026, targeted key grazing reserves, rural livestock settlements, and high-risk corridors, in what authorities describe as a decisive step towards safeguarding livestock productivity, rural livelihoods and public health.
Field operations combined surveillance, community engagement, and targeted vector control strategies, including the deployment of biconical traps to assess tsetse fly prevalence, fumigation of high-risk areas, insecticide application on livestock and breeding sites, and sensitisation campaigns among pastoral communities.
In the FCT, activities at the Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve—home to over 15,000 cattle—focused on structured epidemiological assessment. Traps were strategically placed at 500-metre intervals to generate data for precision intervention.
Deputy director and FCT coordinator of the Federal Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Ozoemena Uche, highlighted the broader implications of the exercise, noting that tsetse flies transmit trypanosomiasis, a disease affecting both animals and humans.
“Our goal is to reduce its impact on livestock productivity and prevent associated public health risks,” he said.
Manager of the reserve, Mohammed Abubakar Bala, raised additional concerns over other livestock diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, calling for sustained veterinary support and improved access to vaccines.
In Kogi state, the campaign covered six local government areas—Adavi, Lokoja, Koton Karfe, Ajaokuta, Ofu, and Idah.
