Since December 2020 when Nigeria reported its first HPAI cases, the country has had 505 confirmed outbreaks that directly affected almost 2.56 million birds. In 2026, H5N1 infections have been reported in 11 poultry flocks, including nine commercial farms.
By Charmain Lines
Added to this bleak disease picture is the fact that more than 40 million Nigerian households are deemed as depending on livestock, and that the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) assesses the disease threat to be growing.
In response, the FAO has provided US$350 000 to help set up the Emergency Support for the Prevention and Control of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) programme in Nigeria.
Based on the One Health approach, the programme aims to safeguard poultry production in Nigeria, support livelihoods, improve food security and reduce the risks of disease transmission between poultry, people and the environment.
To start off with, the focus will be on training additional personnel to respond to future disease outbreaks, in addition to boosting early detection and diagnostic capacities as well as biosecurity on farms and at live bird markets, and improving information flows to poultry farmers.
The Nigerian government’s stance on vaccination is that it will not be considered until scientifically proven to be effective.
This article first appeared in Poultry Bulletin (Issue 33) August/September 2026 and is republished with permission. Click the cover below for the full edition.
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