JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7099
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASVM
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasvm@integrityresjournals.org
The role and restraints of animal health service providers in foot-and-mouth disease vaccination in Nigeria
https://doi.org/10.31248/JASVM2026.641 | Article Number: 59C727E64 | Vol.11 (2) - April 2026
Received Date: 25 February 2026 | Accepted Date: 30 March 2026 | Published Date: 30 April 2026
Authors: Adebayo E. Sopeju* , Grace Okpara , Victor T. Abiodun , Akeemat Ayinla and Andrew Peters
Keywords: Disease control, FMD vaccination, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, veterinarians.
The persistence of transboundary animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to undermine animal health and production, posing significant challenges for farmers, policymakers, and the livestock sector in Nigeria. Although vaccination is a proven tool for FMD control, vaccine adoption in Nigeria remains suboptimal. A major factor is the limited engagement of animal health service providers (AHSPs) in recommending vaccines, which hampers uptake and leaves livestock populations vulnerable to outbreaks. This study, therefore, explores the contribution of AHSPs to FMD vaccination and the challenges that limit their role in disease control. Using semi-structured questionnaires, 201 AHSPs from 12 states across four geopolitical zones were interviewed to assess their knowledge, experience, and practices regarding FMD vaccination. Data were cleaned in Microsoft Excel and analysed in IBM SPSS®. Most respondents were veterinarians (75.1%) with over five years’ professional experience (80.6%). Although 81.6% were aware of FMD vaccine availability, only 71.3% had recommended the vaccines, and just 52.7% recognized the different FMDV serotypes circulating in Nigeria. Notably, 75.4% of AHSPs advised treatment for managing the disease, reflecting persistent gaps in vaccine use by the farmers. The findings in this study highlight barriers, including limited vaccine availability, logistical constraints, and low farmer compliance. Therefore, strengthening vaccine supply, surveillance systems and farmer sensitisation are crucial to enhance AHSPs-driven FMD control in Nigeria.
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