FG Launches African Swine Fever Control Campaign in Southwest

The Federal Government has launched the African Swine Fever (ASF) control and biosecurity campaign at the Oke-Aro Pig Farm Estate in the Southwest, with the distribution of protective and disease-control materials to farmers as part of efforts to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease and protect the country's pig industry.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, flagged off the campaign at the estate, located along the Lagos-Ogun axis, presenting biosecurity kits to numerous farmers in the area. The intervention was initiated by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) to control ASF and improve biosecurity measures among pig farmers.

L-PRES said the intervention was particularly important to Oke-Aro because of the large concentration of pig farmers and pigs within the settlement. The estate, which is widely recognised as one of Nigeria's major pig production clusters, has experienced devastating ASF outbreaks in the past, resulting in the loss of large numbers of pigs and the erosion of farmers' investments. This history of recurrent outbreaks has made disease prevention and improved biosecurity particularly urgent for farmers operating within the estate.

Speaking during the programme, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, said the intervention would go beyond the distribution of materials. He explained that L-PRES would train pig farmers on essential and critical biosecurity measures and other good farm practices needed to prevent and control diseases. The training will cover areas such as proper farm disinfection, use of protective equipment, movement control, farm hygiene and other practical measures for protecting pigs against disease outbreaks. He stressed that providing the materials must go together with giving farmers the knowledge they need to use them properly and maintain good biosecurity on their farms.

The kits distributed during the launch were procured by L-PRES to help farmers improve biosecurity and reduce the risk of diseases entering and spreading within their farms. Items distributed included Personal Protective Equipment, boots, knapsack sprayers, motorised knapsack sprayers, gloves, nose masks, protective goggles, CID 20 disinfectant and Virocid disinfectant. These materials are designed to equip farmers with the practical tools they need to implement effective biosecurity protocols, from personal protection to environmental disinfection.

Responding on behalf of the farmers, the President of the Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adebowale Ayodej, welcomed the intervention and thanked the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and L-PRES for bringing the campaign and biosecurity support to pig farmers. He described African Swine Fever as a major challenge to pig farming and said improved biosecurity, farmer training and access to the right disease-control materials would help farmers better protect their animals and investments. He also welcomed the commitment by L-PRES to train farmers, noting that continuous awareness and practical knowledge on disease prevention are important, especially in a large pig farming community such as Oke-Aro.

Farmers were encouraged to regularly disinfect their farms and pay close attention to the movement of people, pigs, vehicles and equipment between farms, as these are common pathways for the transmission of ASF. The disease is a highly contagious viral infection affecting pigs and can cause serious economic losses to farmers. While it does not infect humans, outbreaks can spread rapidly among pigs where appropriate biosecurity measures are not followed. With no effective vaccine or treatment available, prevention through strict biosecurity remains the most effective strategy for controlling the disease.

The Oke-Aro campaign represents a significant step in the Federal Government's broader efforts to strengthen the livestock sector, which has been identified as a key driver of economic growth and food security. By equipping farmers with both the materials and the knowledge needed to protect their farms, L-PRES is addressing a critical gap that has historically left pig farmers vulnerable to devastating losses. The training component of the intervention is particularly important, as it ensures that the distributed materials are used correctly and that farmers understand the principles of biosecurity that underpin effective disease prevention.

For the farmers of Oke-Aro, the intervention offers renewed hope after years of recurring outbreaks that have threatened their livelihoods. The estate's status as a major pig production cluster makes it a strategic priority for disease control efforts, and the success of the campaign could have ripple effects across the entire Southwest region. As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of African Swine Fever, the L-PRES campaign at Oke-Aro stands as a model for how targeted, comprehensive interventions can help protect livestock, support farmers and safeguard the nation's food supply.