The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has revealed that zoonotic diseases are responsible for approximately 2.7 million deaths worldwide every year.

The association made this known on Monday during a press briefing in Jalingo, Taraba State, as part of activities marking its 62nd Annual Congress and Annual General Meeting (AGM), themed “Animal Health, Food Safety and Security: Ensuring a Healthy and Productive Nigeria”. Led by its National President, Dr. Moses Arokoya, the NVMA highlighted that 65 per cent of human infections originate from animals, while 75 per cent of emerging diseases are also zoonotic in nature.”Zoonotic diseases are one of the core areas of deliberation in this year’s congress,” Dr. Arokoya stated. “They have become an increasingly important global health concern.

“The NVMA also expressed grave concern over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which Dr. Arokoya described as a looming global crisis.”

By 2050, it is projected that 39 million people could die annually as a result of antimicrobial resistance,” he warned. “This is a very serious issue that requires urgent attention both in Nigeria and across the world.”The association further lamented the deteriorating conditions of abattoirs across the country and the shortage of veterinarians in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

“We cannot boldly say that every local government in Nigeria has a veterinarian,” Dr. Arokoya said. “Veterinarians are the gatekeepers of public health, and their absence in many communities poses a major risk to food safety and disease control.”He called for an urgent state of emergency on the nation’s abattoirs, emphasising that improving meat hygiene and surveillance systems is vital to protecting public health.

The four-day congress, according to him, is expected to feature several high-profile guests, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, state governors, and other dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria.Zoonotic diseases, as gathered by The Guardian, are illnesses transmitted between animals and humans, one of which is rabies.

The Guardian reported that the Federal Government has renewed its commitment to combat rabies, aiming to eliminate the disease by 2030 in line with global health targets.Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated this at a Joint Ministerial Press Briefing held on World Rabies Day 2025, themed ‘Act Now: You, Me, Community’, recently in Abuja.

Maiha emphasised the urgency of addressing rabies, stating, “Rabies remains one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases affecting Nigerians.”

He assured that the government is determined to eradicate it through a One Health approach.The minister added, “Government alone cannot win this battle. It requires you, me, and our communities working hand in hand. Together, we can make Nigeria rabies-free.

”He further highlighted ongoing nationwide vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats and reiterated efforts to strengthen veterinary services in underserved communities.“Our approach is deliberate: to ensure that no family suffers the needless pain of losing a loved one to rabies,” he added.