The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating rabies in Nigeria by 2030, calling for stronger collaboration among relevant sectors to intensify vaccination, surveillance and access to post-exposure treatment.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, made the call at the 2026 World Rabies Day Symposium in Abuja, themed “Stronger Together”.

Akujobi described rabies as a devastating but preventable public health challenge, noting that the disease is virtually 100 per cent fatal once clinical symptoms appear.

She said dogs account for more than 99 per cent of human rabies deaths globally, stressing the importance of responsible animal ownership, vaccination, timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis and effective surveillance.

The permanent secretary disclosed that the ministry procured 26,000 doses of rabies vaccines in 2025 and was acquiring additional doses to support a coordinated national vaccination plan.

She urged state and local governments, traditional leaders and dog owners to participate actively in annual mass vaccination campaigns.

Also speaking, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, called for a coordinated “One Health” approach involving the veterinary, human health and environmental sectors.

Anzaku identified inadequate vaccination coverage, limited access to treatment, weak surveillance systems and insufficient funding as major challenges to rabies control in the country.

He, however, said the challenges also presented opportunities for innovative and evidence-based interventions to advance Nigeria’s efforts towards becoming rabies-free.

Representatives of the World Health Organisation and the Federal Ministry of Health pledged their support for the campaign.

The WHO stressed the need to protect children, who constitute a significant proportion of rabies victims, while the Core Group Partners Project reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-based surveillance and encouraging vaccine uptake at the grassroots.