The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, at a 3000-poultry farm in Iriebe, located in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The affected farm, with a capacity of 3,000 birds, reported the outbreak on January 17, 2025, according to a statement released yesterday by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii.
To contain the outbreak, the farm has been quarantined, and all birds have been culled.
The premises have been thoroughly decontaminated following international best practices, with continuous disinfection underway.
Veterinary teams from the ministry, in collaboration with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, have implemented measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
The ministry has also launched an awareness campaign, working with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and other stakeholders, to educate poultry farmers on recognizing symptoms of bird flu, such as sudden death, respiratory distress, swollen combs, and reduced egg production.
Farmers and the public have been urged to report any unusual bird health issues promptly.
Meanwhile, during a visit to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, a PAN delegation led by Olatunde Badmus called on the Federal Government to ease tariffs on imported poultry inputs and equipment.
They also advocated for a duty-free policy to lower production costs and stimulate growth in the poultry industry.
In response, the minister stressed the importance of government intervention to address the challenges in the sector.
He highlighted the urgent need for large-scale cultivation of essential grains like maize, sorghum, and soy, crucial for poultry feed production.
Maiha assured stakeholders of ongoing efforts to stabilize the industry, emphasizing the government’s commitment to sustainable policies.
Additionally, PAN proposed that the government act as a “buyer of last resort” for critical grains to stabilize prices and ensure steady poultry feed supplies.
The association also supported maintaining restrictions on frozen poultry imports to protect local producers and attract foreign investment to Nigeria’s poultry sector.