As part of activities marking World Rabies Day, Nigerians have been cautioned against eating dog meat from unverified sources.
The warning came from the President of Good Development and Accountability Advocacy (GDAA), Chukwunazom Cyra Obi, in a statement to journalists. He drew attention to the dangers of rabies in dogs, a disease that has taken countless lives across the globe.
Obi urged regular dog immunization as a key step in addressing the threat. He highlighted “poor awareness, low vaccination coverage and weak response system” as critical barriers to eliminating rabies in Nigeria.
According to him, “the rabies” remains “a silent but deadly disease” and a persistent public health concern. He insisted that the country needs a stronger national plan, while stressing that vaccinating dogs is still “the most-cost effective way to health transmission.”
He further recommended that the federal government allocate annual funding to ensure vaccination of at least 70% of dogs in both rural and urban communities. He emphasized that veterinary services must guarantee vaccine supply, proper cold chain storage, and mobile campaigns that can reach remote areas.
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Obi, described as an authority in dog management, called for mass sensitisation on rabies prevention, wound care, and post-exposure prophylaxis. He said these campaigns should be conducted “in local languages on radio, television” for better reach.
He also noted that primary health centres should be adequately prepared to provide affordable rabies vaccines without delay. Trained personnel, he added, must strictly follow World Health Organization guidelines and offer proper counselling to victims of dog bites.
Speaking on the rising number of stray dogs, Obi advocated “humane but firm management” involving capture, vaccination, sterilisation, and enforcement of dog registration and ownership laws. These, he explained, would reduce uncontrolled breeding and lower the risk of attacks.