Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate rabies are being threatened by inadequate funding, limited manpower, insufficient facilities, vaccine shortages and weak coordination among relevant stakeholders, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has warned.

The Acting Registrar of the council, Dr Oladokun Fadipe, raised the concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Rabies Day 2026.

World Rabies Day is observed every year on September 28 to raise awareness about rabies prevention and strengthen global efforts to eliminate the deadly but preventable disease.

The theme for the 2026 observance is “Stronger Together.”

Council Calls for Nationwide Mass Vaccination

Fadipe said adequate funding was urgently needed to mobilise veterinary personnel for a nationwide mass vaccination programme targeting dogs, which are responsible for the vast majority of human rabies infections.

According to him, achieving widespread vaccination coverage would provide a foundation for introducing stronger enforcement measures requiring dog owners to keep their animals vaccinated.

He said government must first ensure that sufficient resources are available to carry out mass vaccination before sanctions are imposed on owners who fail to comply.

“We need to get to that point where there are resources to mobilise people to go round and ensure that all dogs are vaccinated,” he said.

He added that dog owners should subsequently be required to present their animals for routine vaccination, with appropriate penalties for non-compliance.

Nigeria Faces Veterinary Manpower Shortage

The VCN Acting Registrar also raised concerns over the shortage of veterinary professionals available to support rabies prevention and treatment programmes.

He disclosed that only about 12,700 veterinarians are registered in Nigeria, while registered para-veterinarians number fewer than 10,000, compared with an estimated requirement of about 50,000.

Fadipe said only a small proportion of veterinarians work in government service, with many others operating in the private sector or outside the country.

He argued that the current public-sector workforce is insufficient to support Nigeria's target of eliminating rabies by 2030.

“If government can recruit more, it will help us, because even when you declare free vaccination, where are the hands to do it?” he asked.

Public-Private Partnership Could Help

Fadipe suggested that government could strengthen its efforts through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involving private veterinary practitioners.

He explained that relying exclusively on government-employed veterinary personnel would make it difficult to achieve the scale of vaccination required across the country.

According to him, involving private practitioners could help expand the workforce available for mass vaccination and other rabies-control activities.

Vaccine Production Capacity a Concern

Beyond manpower, the council also identified inadequate facilities and vaccine availability as major challenges.

Fadipe said the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, which is responsible for veterinary vaccine production, currently lacks the capacity to produce sufficient quantities to meet national demand.

As a result, Nigeria has had to supplement local production through vaccine imports.

He called for increased investment in veterinary infrastructure and stronger support for NVRI to expand its production capacity.

VCN Urges Stronger Collaboration

The council also called on stakeholders involved in rabies prevention to work together rather than operate independently.

Fadipe said the fight against rabies requires cooperation among government agencies, veterinary professionals, dog owners, private practitioners, health authorities, communities and the media.

He described the 2026 World Rabies Day theme, “Stronger Together,” as a reminder that collaboration is essential to achieving meaningful progress.

“We have so many people whose hands are on deck, from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, especially the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, among others. This is a season of collaboration,” he said.

Dog Owners Have a Major Role to Play

The council also urged dog owners to take responsible ownership seriously by ensuring that their animals receive recommended vaccinations.

Fadipe encouraged dog owners to take advantage of government-supported or free vaccination campaigns whenever they are available.

He stressed that widespread participation by dog owners would be critical to achieving effective rabies control.

“Let dog owners present their dogs for free vaccination when there is such an opportunity,” he urged.

Nigeria's 2030 Target

Rabies remains a major public health concern despite being preventable through vaccination and timely intervention.

For Nigeria to make significant progress toward its 2030 eradication target, the Veterinary Council says more resources will be required to strengthen veterinary manpower, expand vaccination coverage, improve facilities and increase vaccine production.

The council also stressed the importance of sustained public awareness, responsible dog ownership and cooperation between government and private-sector veterinary professionals.

As Nigeria marks World Rabies Day 2026, the message from the Veterinary Council is clear: eliminating rabies will require more than occasional vaccination campaigns. It will require sustained funding, adequate manpower, reliable vaccine supply, stronger infrastructure and coordinated action across the country.