The Oyo State Government has officially flagged off a statewide mass livestock vaccination campaign aimed at strengthening animal health, improving livestock productivity, and protecting the livelihoods of farmers across the state.
The flag-off ceremony of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) vaccination campaign took place on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Odo-Eran Area in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area.
The initiative is designed to improve the productivity, commercialization, resilience, and market access of livestock value chains in participating states, thereby enhancing food security and the livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists.
The vaccination campaign targets over 300,000 heads of livestock across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State, focusing on reducing the prevalence of major livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), and Newcastle Disease (NCD). The campaign, which had already commenced across the state on March 9, 2026, is expected to significantly reduce animal mortality, improve animal weight gain, and increase farmers’ income through healthier livestock and improved market access.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness and Director General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, stated that the vaccination exercise demonstrates the commitment of the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to livestock development and agricultural transformation in Oyo State.
According to him, the government is ensuring that livestock across the state are protected against common diseases through coordinated vaccination across all local government areas.
“What the Oyo State Government is doing today through this vaccination programme is to ensure that animals across Oyo State and beyond are protected against known livestock diseases. His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has ensured that livestock development receives serious attention in the state. That is why we are moving across all local governments to ensure animals are vaccinated, starting from the Ibarapa zone,” he said.
Dr. Akande also urged livestock farmers across the state to take advantage of the programme by presenting their animals for vaccination and supporting government initiatives aimed at strengthening the livestock sector.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Peter Ojedokun, encouraged livestock farmers to continue supporting government agricultural programmes, noting that the vaccination exercise will help improve livestock farming practices and increase farmers’ income across the state.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who was represented by the Deputy Director in the Ministry, Dr. Alibu Semiu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Oyo State Government to strengthening livestock productivity and safeguarding animal health.
He noted that the livestock sector remains a critical component of the agricultural economy, providing food, employment, income, and nutritional security for many households. He further explained that the L-PRES project provides a strategic platform for strengthening animal health services through mass vaccination and increased engagement with livestock farmers.
According to him, the state recorded remarkable success during the previous L-PRES vaccination campaign against Anthrax through collaborative efforts of stakeholders. The current campaign will focus on vaccinating large animals against CBPP and Foot and Mouth Disease, while poultry will receive vaccination against Newcastle Disease.
Speaking on behalf of Fulani livestock farmers in Ibarapa land, Bello Saliu expressed appreciation to the Oyo State Government for including pastoralist communities in the programme.
He commended the government for remembering livestock farmers and urged fellow farmers to always present their animals for vaccination to prevent disease outbreaks.
“For example, I ensure my animals are vaccinated every year. If there is an outbreak of disease, the vaccination helps to protect them or reduce the impact. We encourage other farmers to always make their animals available whenever vaccination teams arrive,” he said.
Dignitaries present at the flag-off ceremony included: Oyo State L-PRES Coordinator Alhaji Kola Kazeem,
Engr. Peter Kolawole is the L-PRES Project Engineer, Chief of Staff to Ibarapa East Local Government Alhaji Olatunji Kasal, and the Directors of Agriculture from Ibarapa East and Ibarapa Local Governments.
