Pig farmers in the Ikangba/Agoro axis of Odogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State, have raised the alarm over losses estimated at more than ₦5bn following an outbreak of African Swine Fever, appealing to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently come to their aid.
The farmers, operating under the Ikangba/Agoro Pig Farmers’ Association, said the outbreak had affected more than 2,000 farmers, killed tens of thousands of pigs and forced over 99 per cent of pig farms in the area to shut down.
They made the appeal on Wednesday during a protest organised in collaboration with the Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaign in Ikangba Town, demanding compensation, grants, soft loans and other support to revive their businesses.
The development comes as the Ogun State Government confirmed that it had reported the outbreak to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and was awaiting a response on possible intervention.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, described African Swine Fever as a highly contagious disease affecting pigs, noting that there was no approved vaccine for routine prevention.
He urged affected farmers and their associations to report suspected cases promptly to veterinary authorities for sample collection, diagnostic confirmation and coordinated disease-control measures.
Owotomo also advised farmers to enforce strict biosecurity measures, restrict the movement of pigs, disinfect farm facilities and equipment, and avoid transporting pigs or pork products from suspected infected premises until veterinary authorities provide guidance.
“The Ogun State Government has brought the reported outbreak to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and is awaiting favourable feedback on the necessary intervention and support,” he said.
He added that the government’s priority was to contain the outbreak, protect farmers’ investments and prevent further spread across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the affected farmers, the National Coordinator of the Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaign, John Eko, said the outbreak had devastated the local pig industry, destroying livestock, farm infrastructure, feed supplies and livelihoods.
He lamented that the losses had also resulted in job cuts, leaving many farm workers and their families struggling to survive.
According to Eko, the latest outbreak is the third time in a decade that African Swine Fever has inflicted devastating losses on pig farmers in the area.
He accused the authorities of failing to provide adequate support to farmers battling repeated outbreaks, insisting that government intervention was now critical to preventing the collapse of the local industry.
“Moving forward, we can no longer suffer and die in silence,” he said, adding that the affected farmers could no longer absorb the financial consequences of recurring disease outbreaks without assistance.
Eko called for compensation for farmers who had lost their livestock, agricultural production subsidies, low-interest loans, quality breeding stock, animal feeds and disease-control materials.
He also appealed for relief packages for farmers who could no longer provide basic necessities for their families following the destruction of their businesses.
Beyond immediate financial assistance, the campaign coordinator urged the Federal Government to invest in research aimed at developing vaccines and drugs against African Swine Fever.
He identified the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State, as one of the institutions that could contribute to efforts to find lasting solutions to the disease.
Eko also proposed the establishment of a high-powered technical committee comprising scientists, farmers and other professionals to explore effective prevention and treatment options.
For individual farmers, the losses have been devastating.
One of the affected farmers, Folorunsho Ayodele, said he lost pigs worth more than ₦18m, while his neighbour suffered losses exceeding ₦30m.
Ayodele said the outbreak began about two months ago, leaving thousands of farmers facing financial distress after their animals died.
He explained that some farmers had borrowed money to invest in their businesses, while others were reportedly hospitalised after suffering severe emotional distress from the losses.
“We beg Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Tinubu to please come to our aid. We need all the support to go back to our business and continue to contribute our quota to our country’s development,” he appealed.
Another farmer, Adeola Oyeleye, disclosed that she had lost investments worth more than ₦10m, adding that some farmers in the area had suffered losses exceeding ₦100m.
She called for compensation, grants and soft loans to help affected farmers rebuild their businesses, replace lost livestock and restore their empty pig pens.
Oyeleye also urged the government to intensify efforts towards developing a vaccine against the disease.
The farmers maintained that without urgent intervention, the outbreak could further undermine pig production, destroy livelihoods and worsen the challenges facing agricultural businesses in the area.
