By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Taraba State Government has imposed a ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products in Ibi and Wukari Local Government Areas due to an outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu).
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Nicholas Namesan, announced the ban during a press conference on Saturday in Jalingo, citing the zoonotic nature of the disease, which can affect humans.
Namessan who was represented by the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Francis Nathan, cautioned the public on handling poultry products and advised against consuming sick birds.
The ban affects birds such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, and ostriches.
“I want to inform the public of the outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in Jubu Wukari local government area Taraba state, last Saturday 25 October, 2025 we received information from our field officers of different species of birds dieing in there numbers. On the 26 October we mobilized our rapid respond team and sent them to Jubu for an on-sight inspection and also collection of samples, this was done and the samples was transported to avian R-form for analysis.
“On the 29 of October the samples came out positive for the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus, on behalf of the chief Veterinary officer of Nigeria and with his permission, it is my honour to declare Taraba as positive to the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus.
“The way forward is, we have form an expanded team of the rapid respond for consultation with the political, religion and traditional stakeholders, subsequently we are going to impose a ban of movement of poultry and poultry products from Jubu, Tapare and Yamani axis, we will not allow birds to come out from the place and we will not allow other birds to go in.
“We are also going to impose a ban on the lives-birds market in that axis Doruwa, Bantaje and Tapare Yamani.
“The disease is zoonotic as it has been known to transfer from birds to humans, the public should stay away from eating sick birds to prevent the spread of the disease, the bird such as chickens, ducks, geese turkeys, guinea fowl among gallinaceous birds and ostriches,” he said.
Namessan further maintained that the move aims to contain the outbreak and protect public health and prevent its spread to other parts of the state.
