Katsina State Government has commenced the 2026 Annual Mass Livestock Vaccination Exercise, kicking off an 18-day statewide campaign aimed at protecting cattle, sheep and goats from deadly infectious diseases and boosting livestock productivity.
The exercise, flagged off at Shifdawa Fulani Village in Batagarawa Local Government Area, targets three major livestock diseases of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and Peste-des-Petits Ruminants (PPR), which continue to pose significant threats to animal health, food security and rural livelihoods.
Speaking during the launch, Katsina state governor Dikko Radda described the initiative as a critical step towards safeguarding the livestock sector, which remains one of the key drivers of the state’s economy.
He emphasised that vaccination remains the most effective means of preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring healthier and more productive livestock populations.
According to the governor, the campaign will cover all 361 wards across Katsina State’s 34 local government areas. He explained that the exercise will run for 18 days, comprising 12 days of house-to-house vaccination against PPR and six days dedicated to statewide vaccination against CBPP and FMD.
The governor also commended development partners, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Co-group, for supporting livestock development initiatives in the state.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof Ahmed Bakori Mohammed, said livestock production remains central to the economic and social well-being of many households across the state.
He warned that CBPP, FMD and PPR continue to threaten livestock productivity and food security, stressing that sustained vaccination efforts are necessary to curb their impact.