G/SPS/GEN/1441  
 
30 September 2015  
(15-5039)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 64TH MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
SUBMISSION BY NIGERIA 
The following communication, dated 28 September 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Nigeria. 
 
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 1  PEST AND DISEASE FREE AREAS 
1.1  Item 7. (a) 
1.1.  Members will recall that in March this year, Nigeria notified the Committee on the situation of 
Avian Influenza in Nigeria in accordance with article 6 of the SPS Agr eement on Transparency.
1 We 
wish to update the Committee on the status of the disease in Nigeria and the measures so far 
taken to address the problem in the affected states in Nigeria. 
2  DISEASE SITUATION 2.1.  Nigeria is still experiencing sporadic outbreaks of the disease though the numbers of 
outbreaks have drastically reduced compared to the situation in March 2015. We had a six weeks 
break between June and July before we recorded three cases in the Lagos environ. The number of States in Nigeria that have recorded outbreaks now stands at 21 States, up from the 18 States reported in March while the affected Local Government Areas (LGAs) involved are 84 up from the 
71 reported at last meeting. So far, the total number of birds depopulated is 1,558,201 in 474 
farms and one zoological garden. Investigatio ns conducted through gene sequencing and 
phylogenetic analysis of the virus isolated from this present outbreak has shown similarities to 
subtypes of virus strain isolated from a previous infection in China HPAI outbreak. It is therefore 
very likely that the source of infection of this current resurgence is wild birds but investigation is on-going. 
3  ACTIONS TAKEN 
3.1.  Apart from the notifications made to the International Organizations and initial measures 
taken to control the disease under the modified st amping–out policy of government, several other 
interventions were undertaken including public awareness, sensitization of the key stakeholders in 
the industry and capacity building for the offi cials of the veterinary, livestock and extension 
services. In addition, private veterinarians, egg merchants, poultry manure merchants and live bird market operators are being targeted in the current on-going sensitization and capacity 
building activities. This is consequent on a disease investigation conducted by the Department of 
Veterinary Services, FMARD which found that the major risk factors responsible for the spread of the current resurgence of the disease are egg merchants, poultry manure merchants and live bird 
market operators. The inability of the States to  effectively enforce movement control of poultry 
and poultry products despite the movement control re gulation signed by the Minister of Agriculture 
and Rural Development has also contributed to the spread of the AI virus. Zoning, compartmentalization or regionalization is currently not being implemented in Nigeria. 
                                               
1 Document G/SPS/GEN/1397. G/SPS/GEN/1441 
 
- 2 - 
 
  3.2.  In addition to the above, a total of 1 37 farmers have been paid a sum of N396,974,226.00 
for depopulated birds and destroyed eggs while a sum of N675,778,399.00 is being processed to pay another set of 291 farmers whose birds were depopulated. 
4  OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES 
4.1.  Nigeria hosted a sub-regional meeting on Avian Influenza Control organized and funded by 
FAO to develop a regional strategy for the contro l of the Avian Influenza. The meeting attracted 
stakeholders from the 15 countries in the sub-re gion and the donor community. Nigeria presented 
a paper on the efforts being made to contain the Avian Influenza Epidemic. 
4.2.  Nigeria is also making efforts at reviewing its emergency preparedness and response plan for 
Avian Influenza based on experience garnered from the on-going Avian Influenza resurgence. 
A  t e a m  o f  e x p e r t s  h a v e  b e e n  s e l e c t e d  t o  r e v i e w  t h e  c u r r e n t  p l a n  i n  l i n e  w i t h  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  
standards and best practice. 
5  SUPPORT FROM DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 5.1.  The World Bank, FAO, USAID and other partne rs have been very supportive both financially 
and technically in our efforts at containing the disease. They have continued to participate at our 
technical Meetings making valuable contributions to formulation of strategy towards the containment of the disease. 
6  CHALLENGES 
6.1.  The challenges faced include: 
a. Inability to carry out active disease surveillance to determine the extent of spread of the 
virus before its clinical manifestations in poultry species thereby being ahead of the virus' 
spread; 
b. Ineffectiveness of on-farm quarantine measures and implementation of containment 
measures such as movement control of birds; 
c. Low risk perception amongst poultry farmers, poultry attendants, animal health service 
providers and the general public on the disease in the States; 
d. Inability to effectively control movement of poultry and poultry products; and 
e. Inadequate funding for the containment measures put in place by Ministry and 
development partners which has also affected the efficacy of the control. 
7  FUTURE PLANS 7.1.  Plans for the future include the following: 
 Dealing with challenges; 
 Stepping up Sensitization and Farmer Education; 
 Increasing Active Surveillance; 
 Enhancing human capacity building; 
 Bridging funding gaps; 
 Strengthening State Veterinary Services; 
 Strengthening regional and international collaboration; 
 Increasing the role of NGOs in disease reporting; and 
 Developing a National Strategic Pl an for Animal Disease Control. 
8  CONCLUSION 
The resurgence of avian influenza in Nigeria, in Africa is a matter of great concern for the nation, 
the region and indeed the world. The prevention and control of its spread therefore becomes of 
great priority to Government and the international community. To avoid possible development of 
the pandemic more intensive control and survei llance activities are needed. The support of 
National and Regional Governments as well as international development agencies and private sector is urgently needed. 
 
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