Nigeria and Russia are deepening their collaboration in the livestock sector, with a focus on veterinary vaccines and modernising animal husbandry.

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podelyshev, through the Russian Agricultural Attaché, Vladimir Efremov, met with officials at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in Abuja. During the discussions, Russia expressed readiness to support Nigeria with quality veterinary vaccines, highlighting its long-standing expertise in animal health solutions. Updated product catalogues from Russia’s Animal Health Centre were shared, and Nigerian delegates attended the Golden Autumn 2025 Agro-Industrial Exhibition in Moscow.

Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, emphasised the need to modernise the livestock sector, particularly in genetics, nutrition, disease surveillance, and animal health. The country sees potential for Russian investment in vaccine production, livestock pharmaceuticals, cold-chain technologies, and improved animal genetics.

The collaboration is viewed as a strategic step to boost domestic food security, enhance livestock productivity, and expand Nigeria’s export potential. Veterinary vaccines play a critical role in preventing disease outbreaks, ensuring higher yields, and meeting international standards required for export.

While the partnership offers promising opportunities, experts note that challenges remain, including vaccine distribution across Nigeria’s vast geography, technology transfer, local capacity building, and regulatory compliance. Successful collaboration will require alignment with Nigeria’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS 2025–2035), which aims to transform the country’s livestock economy by 2035.

This engagement underscores Nigeria’s commitment to modernising its livestock industry and positions Russia as a key partner in achieving sustainable growth and global competitiveness in the sector. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.