Kebbi Government to complete largest Veterinary Animal Hospital in Nigeria

“While promising to complete the project at the stipulated period, the Contractor advised Fulani and other livestock farmers in the state to seize the opportunity of the facility to improve their livelihood and to enable them shift from traditional ways of rearing animals and embrace modern livestock farming”.

Determined to change the old ways of rearing cows to modern method, and attracts the Livestocks breeders across the Northern region of Nigeria , Kebbi state government has taken the Bull by the horns to complete the 13 years old abandoned Veterinary Animal hospital.

The animal hospital, it was gathered is the largest Veterinary Animal Hospital with over 20 hectares of land,spread across the major roads in the state capital, making it accessible by visitors.

Also, for the people of Kebbi State especially herders and neigbouring states and countries,the era of losing their animals to diseases and deformity would be an issues of the past. The challenges of rejection of cow milk and beef from Kebbi State by international Community, it was learnt, would be an issue of the past when the project is completed.

To accomplish this dream, the state Government, is now working hard to complete the first largest Veterinary Animal hospital in the Northern region of Nigeria. It was generally believed that Kebbi State is among the three states in the Northern region with the highest cattles population, but the breeders usually lose many of their Livestocks to diseases due to the lack of modern animals clinics within their locality. Their efforts to export their milk and beefs were always frustrated as a result of allegations that the products were unhealthy and not certified.

Realizing the importance of the Livestocks to the state IGR,State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir Idris took up the abandoned project to not only resolve some challenges faced by the herders,but to also creates job opportunities for trained Veterinary Doctors in the state to practices their profession at the maximum level.

At the site of the hospital located along Birnin Kebbi -Kalgo road, the facility which has different segments such as Surgical units, pharmacy unit, administrative unit,and stores, also has an insinuating department where animal semen could be transferred.

While briefing newsmen on the project,Kebbi State Commissioner for Animal Health Husbandry and Fishery, Alhaji Kabir Usman Alaramma, disclosed that the hospital,which is the largest in country, would be commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on its completion.

He noted that,the State Governor, Dr Nasir who wants to put the state on the world map as the best state in the area of animal husbandry,took the decision to complete the project so that herders would be treating their animals of various infections while the state also would be deriving GDP from the exportation of diary products.

According to him, ” let me appreciate the efforts of the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris for completing this project that was abandoned for good 13 years. As you all know, this hospital is the largest hospital in the whole of Nigeria not only in the whole Northern states. We have potential in the area of livestock and that is the main reason the Governor wants to improve the standard when it comes to livestock sector. As you all are aware, we have the largest livestock population in the country. We have the Director of animals husbandry, Director of Veterinary Public health, and the Director of Ranch management who is in charge of all ranches and livestock routes in the State”.

“As we explained to the federal ministry of livestock, we have 25 state grazing reserves in Kebbi State, we have 12 livestock routes in the State. We also have 74 LGAs grazing reserved routes. That is why Governor is looking at how to improve the economic well-being of the state through investing in this Veterinary hospital.

” We also have 76 livestock markets in Kebbi state. Some are international markets. Kebbi State has the largest potential in the livestock sector in Nigeria.

“So, our mission for this hospital is to ensure that it serves as the reference center in Nigeria which would improve the standard of livestock in the country. Our livestock farmers in the state would acquire a new modern system of rearing livestock so that they could transform from the old system of livestock farming to the modern way of rearing livestock, so that at the end, we could improve on our diary production and beef production in the sector”.

Alaramma confirmed that the completion of the hospital will be early next year (2026), stressing that the Governor would invite the President and the Minister of livestock development to commission the project for the entire world to know what Kebbi state is doing in the livestock sector.

Earlier, the director of Veterinary Services at the Ministry,Dr. Alheri Ibrahim Senchi disclosed that the animal hospital would not only be a reference point,but a special place where all academic institutions would be training their students undergoing residency exercise.

Speaking on the partnership of the state with Brazil, Senchi noted that the Brazilian Government has realized the potential of the state in the livestock sector.

” For Brazil to partner with Nigeria through Kebbi state, means that they recognize the richness of livestock in Kebbi state. They also recognize our resources and manpower to provide excellent health and well-being of our animals. It is well known that if you want to export your beef to any country,it has to be satisfied by the appropriate agencies, to meet international standards.

“They are aware that we have the capacity to ensure that our animals are fit for human consumption.
What that speaks for us is that, as far as Veterinary is concerned, our laboratory is part of arteries of artificial insemination. Because when you collect semen sample, you must be able to process it, properly keep it so that it can be used to provide what is necessary to ensure a successful insemination. All these processes would be found in our new modern Ultramodern Veterinary Hospital “.

Also, the Contractor handling the project and the Managing Director, S. Fulani and Sons Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, appreciate Governor Idris for mobilising them back to site after 13 years of redundancy.

He said the governor was highly instrumental in completing abandoned projects across the state, saying, “our own is one of such projects abandoned for many years”.

Kiruwa noted that the project was not only important to Fulani people but it is also highly significant to the entire livestock farmers including those rearing pigs.

While promising to complete the project at the stipulated period, the Contractor advised Fulani and other livestock farmers in the state to seize the opportunity of the facility to improve their livelihood and to enable them shift from traditional ways of rearing animals and embrace modern livestock farming.

By Ola Lawal, Birnin Kebbi