Abia State Teams Up with Federal Ministry to Fight Pests

The Abia State Government announced on Monday that it will work with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to tackle tsetse fly and other pests.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Cliff Agbeze, shared this news when a team from the Federal Ministry, led by Gilbert Okoro, visited his office in Umuahia. Adamma Aguwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Abia Ministry of Agriculture, represented Mr Agbeze during the visit.

Mr Agbeze mentioned that this visit strengthens the efforts of both the federal and state governments to reduce pests that harm livestock and crops. He also said it shows a clear plan to increase agricultural production in Abia and Nigeria as a whole.

He added that staff from the ministry would be available to guide the team to sites where they will carry out the tsetse fly surveillance and control projects.

Earlier, Mr Okoro explained that the team came to Abia to conduct a tsetse fly surveillance and control operation. He said the project aims to control trans-boundary pests, especially the tsetse fly, which threatens livestock by spreading the disease trypanosomiasis.

"The tsetse fly, a pest that affects cattle, spreads trypanosomiasis, which causes sleeping sickness in both humans and cattle," Mr Okoro noted. He also pointed out that it lowers the quality of milk and meat from cows and leads to other health issues in people.

He emphasized that the project supports the World Health Organisation’s “One Health Initiative.” This initiative aims to improve farmers' health, increase crop and livestock yields, and protect the environment.

Mr Okoro mentioned that the project covers all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and specifically targets Abia’s three senatorial districts.

"The team will be visiting Aba for Abia South, Umuahia for Abia Central, and Lokpanta for Abia North," he said. "The project has already taken place in the North-east zone. Abia is representing the South-east zone. After Abia, the team will move to Akwa Ibom, which is selected for the South-south zone."

Later, the group went to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Umudike, Umuahia, to finalize plans for their work in Umudike and other areas in the state.

Key staff from the Abia Ministry of Agriculture at the event included the Director of Veterinary Services, Vitus Nwokoh; the Director of Livestock and Fisheries, Victor Obasi; the Director of Epidemiology, Onu Nwokedi; and the Head of Media and Information, Oluchi Franklin.