The Veterinary Council of Nigeria has identified inadequate funding, manpower shortages, insufficient facilities and limited vaccine supplies as major obstacles to the country’s efforts to eradicate rabies by 2030.
The Acting Registrar of the council, Dr Oladokun Fadipe, raised the concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja as Nigeria joined other countries to commemorate the 2026 World Rabies Day on Monday.
World Rabies Day is observed annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the prevention of rabies and efforts to eliminate the disease. This year’s theme is “Stronger Together.”
Fadipe said the government needed to commit adequate resources to mobilise veterinary personnel for nationwide mass vaccination of dogs, stressing that vaccination remained central to controlling the spread of the deadly disease.
He said achieving widespread vaccination coverage would require a coordinated effort involving government agencies, veterinary professionals, private practitioners, communities and dog owners.
According to him, once a comprehensive vaccination programme is achieved, dog owners should be required to present their animals for routine vaccination, with appropriate sanctions for non-compliance.
The Acting Registrar also expressed concern over the shortage of veterinary professionals available to support rabies control and respond to cases involving people bitten by suspected rabid animals.
He disclosed that only about 12,700 veterinarians were registered in Nigeria, while registered para-veterinarians were fewer than 10,000, compared with an estimated requirement of about 50,000.
Fadipe noted that only a small proportion of veterinarians worked in government service, while many were employed in the private sector or had left the country. He said the number available in public service was inadequate to support the country’s target of eliminating rabies by 2030.
He called for increased recruitment of veterinary personnel, saying public-private partnerships could also help bridge the manpower gap and expand vaccination coverage.
The council official further identified inadequate vaccine production as another challenge. He said the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, which is responsible for vaccine production, currently lacks the capacity to produce enough doses to meet national demand, forcing the country to rely partly on imported vaccines.
He therefore called for investment in the upgrading of veterinary facilities and an expansion of the capacity of the National Veterinary Research Institute to produce sufficient vaccines locally.
The concerns come as the Federal Government intensifies its efforts to eliminate rabies in Nigeria by 2030. The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development recently disclosed that more than 100 rabies cases had been recorded between January and August 2026, with cases reported in between 18 and 20 states during some months.
The National Rabies Control Programme has estimated Nigeria’s dog population at more than 30 million and is targeting vaccination of approximately 70 per cent of the population to significantly reduce transmission.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, has also called for sustained mass dog vaccination and stronger collaboration among government agencies, communities, development partners and private-sector organisations.
He said rabies control required a One Health approach, bringing together the animal health, human health and environmental sectors. The Federal Government has also announced plans to introduce pre-exposure vaccination for frontline workers who are regularly exposed to dogs, including veterinarians, para-veterinary professionals and hunters.
Fadipe urged stakeholders to avoid working in isolation and instead strengthen collaboration towards the eradication target. He also appealed to dog owners to take advantage of free vaccination opportunities and ensure that their animals receive routine vaccinations.
He further encouraged Nigerians to report dog-bite incidents promptly and seek medical or veterinary attention after exposure to suspected rabid animals.
With the 2030 eradication target approaching, veterinary authorities say sustained funding, adequate manpower, reliable vaccine supplies, stronger surveillance and responsible dog ownership will remain critical to preventing deaths from a disease that is largely preventable through vaccination.
