By Paul Effiong, Abuja
National Assembly Joint Committee on Livestock has vowed to increase budgetary allocation for the Veterinary Institute of Nigeria which is under the Ministry of Livestock, considering its relevance in providing vaccines to contain the spread of diseases in the country.
Speaking yesterday during the 2025 budget defence session at the National Assembly, Abuja, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Livestock, Senator Musa Mustapha, while responding to the institute’s request for increased budget, promised to do everything possible to assist in terms of legislative support, as well as vaccines production.
In his address, Co-chairman of the committee, Wale Raji gave reasons why the committee should make case for the institute to get more budget from government, noting that it is the pillar in the Livestock Ministry.
According to the lawmaker, when talking about vaccines production, it is expected of the institute to state what is required for massive production.
The committee observed that the institute’s 2024 budget performance, more expenses were channelled to the purchase of diesel.
In his submission, Director-General of the Veterinary Institute of Nigeria, Maryam Muhammad disclosed that the proposed budgetary allocation of N900million was grossly inadequate for the agency to deliver on its mandate.
On the institute’s response to the outbreak of diseases, the director-general revealed that over 40 million doses of vaccines were produced when they heard of an outbreak of some dangerous ailments in neighbouring countries.
According to her, “We are also working with international and local donors. That is why we have been able to stop the spread of the disease.”
The institute explained that most of its machines capacity for storage of the vaccines could only be powered by high voltage, rather than the use of solar panels.
