Mandate

The Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services (DVPCS) which was was established in July, 2014 functions as the policy adviser to the Government on all Animal Health, Safety and wholesomeness of food of animal origin for human consumption and Pest Control Services. The Department draws its mandate from the Animal Diseases Control Act NO. 10 of 1988 and the World Organization for Animal Health (Office Internationale des Epizooties-OIE) standards, recommendations and guidelines for animal health and welfare.

It is involved in the prevention, control and eradication of trans-boundary animal diseases and pests, control of vector and vector-borne diseases, zoo-sanitary certification services, provision of veterinary public health services, food safety services and zoonotic diseases control to guarantee healthy national herd, wholesomeness of foods of animal origin, international trade in livestock and livestock products and the general economic well-being of the populace.  The foregoing are achieved through:

1. Building a strong herd-health that will guarantee increased productivity and output of all species of livestock in Nigeria;
2. Guaranteeing the provision of wholesome food of animal origin to meet local demands and for export;
3. Ensuring optimum utilization of the ecosystem for livestock production with nominal damage;
4. Carrying out effective surveillance on animal diseases and develop early warning early reaction system.
5. Encouraging private sector participation in all aspects of animal health services including marketing;
6. Certification of animal and animal products for trade  (import/export).
7. Developing manpower and vocational skills for all stakeholders in the Animal Health sub-sector; and
8. Effective control and management vectors of animal diseases and transboundary animal pests.
9. Ensuring that Animal Health Systems is founded on good governance enabled by the appropriate legislation and the necessary means to enforce it.
10. Ensure and coordinate the registration of poultry and livestock farms in line with zoosanitary requirements
11. Establishment of a network covering the whole country based on a tripod composed of official Veterinarians, Private Veterinarians/Para-veterinarians/Community Animal Health Workers and Animal producers which ensure effective surveillance.
12. Ensuring early detection of an outbreak to enable a rapid response to potentially serious health events.
13. Facilitating the provision of Bio-Security and Bio-Containment measures for infected farms to prevent pathogens from spreading and enable them to be eliminated.
14. Ensuring rapid and fair financial compensation measures for producers whose animals have had to be culled due to health reasons.
15. Provision of vaccination for healthy animals whenever appropriate.
16. Ensuring good initial training and continuing education for all professionals.
17. Ensuring continuous applied research on control methods since pathogens are constantly adapting.
18. Strengthening and expansion of Veterinary Public Health Services to cover Meat Inspection Services, Milk Hygiene, Public Health Education, Environmental Hygiene and Laboratory Services to ensure the consumption of quality and safe Animals and Animal commodities.
19. Liaison with international and regional organizations (OIE, WTO, FAO, AU-IBAR, ECOWAS, Codex Alimentarius etc) on all matters relating to animals and animal health