The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has commenced a statewide tsetse fly surveillance, community sensitisation and vector control campaign in Akwa Ibom.

The exercise is targeting livestock settlements, cattle markets and riverine communities prone to infestation.

Flagging off the exercise in Uyo yesterday, the State Coordinator of the ministry, Mrs Ikankeabasi Ukpong, said the intervention forms part of a nationwide effort to combat tsetse flies, which transmit African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness in humans and African Animal Trypanosomiasis (Nagana) in livestock.

Ukpong explained that Nigeria has about 12 identified species of tsetse flies under the Glossina genus, with Glossina palpalis being the dominant species in the South-South region. She noted that Akwa Ibom’s humid tropical environment and numerous rivers provide favourable breeding grounds for the vector.

She warned that the disease causes severe economic losses to livestock farmers through weight loss, anaemia, reduced milk and meat production, and, in advanced cases, death of affected animals.

According to her, the surveillance team will focus on riverine communities in Itu, Mbo and Oron Local Government Areas, as well as the cattle settlement in Itam, where traps will be deployed to monitor and control the tsetse fly population.

“We will intensify surveillance in the identified endemic areas and, by God’s grace, achieve a successful operation that will significantly reduce tsetse fly infestation in Akwa Ibom State,” she said.

The State Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Teddy Essien, commended the Federal Government for prioritising the intervention, describing it as a major boost to the state’s livestock and agricultural development.

Essien disclosed that Akwa Ibom had partnered with the Federal Government on no fewer than six agricultural programmes this year and assured the surveillance team of the state’s full support throughout the exercise. He also urged the team to provide regular feedback from the field to guide future interventions.

Earlier, the Team Leader, Mr. Gilbert Okoro, described the exercise as a nationwide campaign aimed at curbing the spread of the transboundary disease affecting both humans and animals. He said the operation would involve setting traps in identified locations, harvesting trapped flies and generating data to support sustained vector control efforts across the country.