The newly completed facilities, situated in the Epe area of Lagos State and Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State, form part of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development’s ambitious plan to establish 774 Veterinary Primary Health Centres across local government areas nationwide.
Government officials say the project is aimed at improving access to veterinary healthcare services, especially for livestock farmers in rural communities who often struggle with inadequate animal healthcare support.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Epe, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, represented by the Director of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, Alao Mitchell, said the initiative would help bring essential veterinary services closer to farmers while strengthening disease prevention and surveillance systems.
According to him, improved access to veterinary care is expected to reduce livestock diseases, boost animal productivity, and support Nigeria’s food security goals.
He noted that healthier livestock populations would not only improve meat and dairy production but also help protect farmers from the economic losses often caused by disease outbreaks.
Providing further details on the programme, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Henrietta Okokon, said the project is being implemented in phases across 20 states of the federation.
She disclosed that seven out of the proposed 21 model veterinary hospitals have already been completed in states including Sokoto, Niger, Enugu, Ondo, Borno, Adamawa, and Edo.
Okokon added that construction work is ongoing on 14 additional centres expected to expand the country’s veterinary infrastructure further.
She explained that the government is partnering with state governments and private sector operators through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure efficient management and long-term sustainability of the facilities.
According to her, the centres are expected to provide affordable animal healthcare services for livestock farmers, herders, poultry operators, and other stakeholders within the livestock value chain.
“The initiative is expected to serve over 450,000 livestock value chain clusters within its first two years of operation,” Okokon said.
Agriculture and livestock experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of accessible veterinary services in improving productivity, reducing food shortages, and controlling zoonotic diseases capable of spreading from animals to humans.
Stakeholders believe the new centres could play a significant role in modernising Nigeria’s livestock industry, particularly at a time when the government is seeking to diversify the economy and strengthen local food production systems.