29/08/2026
Farauta Commissions Livestock Quarantine Post in Maiha, AI Centre in Mubi
By Jessica John Bakari
Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, has commissioned a livestock border inspection and animal resting point at Jaba-Jaba in Maiha Local Government Area and an Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre at Adamawa State University, Mubi.
The facilities were commissioned in collaboration with the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr Sanusi Abubakar.
Speaking during the commissioning, Professor Farauta urged residents of Maiha and neighbouring communities to stop slaughtering and consuming unhealthy animals, warning that diseased livestock could pose serious risks to human health.
She advised livestock owners and consumers to always seek the services of veterinary doctors and obtain proper clearance before slaughtering animals, particularly those meant for commercial purposes.
The Deputy Governor appreciated the Federal Government for the intervention through the L-PRES project and called on the people of Maiha and Mubi to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their effective utilisation and sustainability.
Quarantine Post to Strengthen Disease Surveillance
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the Jaba-Jaba facility as the second of six quarantine animal-holding facilities being established under the first phase of the programme across the country.
He said the first facility was established in Rivers State, explaining that Nigeria's extensive borders with neighbouring countries facilitate the movement of cattle, sheep and goats for trade, grazing and other economic activities.
According to him, the new quarantine post will provide facilities for the inspection, temporary holding, health assessment and certification of livestock entering the country through the border corridor.
He added that the facility would strengthen disease surveillance and early detection, improve animal identification and traceability, and enable authorities to respond promptly to animal-health threats before they spread to the nation's livestock population.
Maiha said the project was delivered through L-PRES, a World Bank-assisted programme supervised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, as part of efforts to strengthen livestock institutions and provide critical infrastructure for the sector.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, said the intervention would strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) to prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases through international borders.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr Secondee Alfa, represented by Mr Markus Danbaki, said the Artificial Insemination Centre at Mubi would provide farmers with access to improved livestock genetics while serving as a practical learning centre for students and researchers.
He said the centre would help farmers achieve higher productivity and increased income, noting that access to quality breeding services had remained a major challenge for smallholder livestock farmers.
Mr Alfa explained that while one improved bull could naturally serve about 50 cows in a year, artificial insemination could potentially extend access to improved genetics to about 1,000 cows.
He urged livestock farmers to make maximum use of the facility, saying the days of leaving herd improvement to chance were over.
He also encouraged students of Adamawa State University, Mubi, to take advantage of the centre to acquire practical knowledge, adding that it would serve as a hub for the university and other institutions of learning.
In separate remarks, the Emir of Maiha, Alhaji Ahmadu Saibaru Sanda, and the Vice-Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Mubi, Professor Augustine Clement, commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, L-PRES and the Adamawa State Government under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for the projects.
They pledged to support and take ownership of the facilities to ensure their sustainability and effective utilisation.
The commissioning ceremony ended with colourful traditional dances performed by various ethnic groups in the area.
COV: JJB
