Institute Targets 900m Vaccines Production For Export

The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, near Jos, is targeting the production of 900 million vaccines for export by 2015, says the the Executive Director, Dr Mohammed Ahmed, .

Ahmed told newsmen in Enugu that the current vaccine production level was a little over 100 million and that they are consumed locally.

“We are currently also producing 17 vaccines for various diseases comprising eight bacterial and  nine viral vaccines, which include vaccines for cats, dogs, poultry, cattle and goat.

“Research is also ongoing to develop vaccines for new and emerging diseases for livestock and poultry.”

Ahmed said that in order to realise the set target, the institute needed to complete and equip its new bacterial vaccine production laboratory.

According to him, when the laboratory is completed and operated as a commercial entity, it will assist the institute to generate funds that can be re-invested in the research and development of new vaccines.

He described the livestock sub-sector as a major component of the nation’s agricultural production system and urged the government to develop it.

The executive director said several animal diseases had been controlled and eradicated by vaccines while others were still in existence due to the lack of effective vaccines to tackle them.

He said that the institute was making efforts to upgrade its vaccine production infrastructure to meet increasing local demand for poultry vaccines.

The director commended the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, saying that if well implemented, it would revolutionise agriculture in the country and improve the economic well-being of farmers.