Abuja — Federal Government has obtained a credit of $50 million from the World Bank under its emergency funds for the implementation of the Avian lnfluenza Control Project (AICP).

This was disclosed by the minister of agriculture and water resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, when the chief veterinary officer of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Dr Joseph Domenech, paid him a courtesy visit at the weekend in Abuja.

The minister said that Nigeria is committed with policy support instrument to avert the avian influenza and that the ministry will allocate N2.5 billion for the same programme, and that the disease has been confirmed in about 97 LGAs in a total of 25 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

"Since the outbreak of the virus, about 1.3 million birds have been culled and depopulated over the period while over 760,000 birds died as a result of the disease in the country".

Ruma added that the government has paid over N623 million to 2,733 poultry farmers as compensation for their birds culled as a result of the disease,although the control and management of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) stretched the capacity of the veterinary services, it has improved the institutional and human capacity building required to meet the challenges.

He, however, acknowleged the contribution of the FAO in the global battle against Avian lnfluenza and their support to Nigeria through the provision of very valuable technical information which include an Emergency Technical Programme on the control of Africa Swine Fever (2000/2001), Avian Influenza Active Disease Surveilance Study in Nigeria COSRO/NIR/602/EC) 2007 and Technical Assistance to the Government of Nigeria for Control and Eradication of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza CoSRO/NIR/601/NUL) 2007.

Earlier, the chief viterinary officer of the FAO, Dr. Joseph Domenech said that the experiences of the crisis Avian Influenza and other country regions in the world were showing that nigeria may be in that difficult stituation of which the situation is under control with commitment and strategies of the government.

He also acknowledge the National Veterinary Research Institute in Jos saying "I have visited the new buildins, new equipment and met with the director responsible for the Avian Influenza services is really very good job being done their, therefore the virus is still their and investigation have shown so is a good track to continue to fight the virus.