World Rabies Day: Nigerians Warned Against Consuming Dog Meat from Unverified Sources

As the world observes World Rabies Day, Nigerians have been cautioned against consuming dog meat without confirming the animals are free from rabies.

The warning came from Chukwunazom Cyra Obi, President of the Good Development and Accountability Advocacy (GDAA), who issued a statement to journalists highlighting the global threat posed by rabies—a disease responsible for countless deaths worldwide.

Obi emphasized that routine dog vaccination is essential to combat the spread of the virus, noting that low public awareness, poor vaccination coverage, and weak emergency response systems are major obstacles to eliminating rabies in Nigeria.

“Rabies is a silent but deadly disease and remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. A stronger national response is urgently needed,” he said. “Dog vaccination is the most cost-effective way to prevent transmission.”

He urged the Nigerian government to allocate annual budgets to vaccinate at least 70% of the dog population in both urban and rural areas. Obi also stressed the importance of ensuring vaccine availability, proper cold chain storage, and mobile outreach, particularly in remote communities.

Calling for a nationwide sensitization campaign, Obi recommended using local languages across radio and television platforms to educate citizens on rabies prevention, proper wound care, and post-exposure treatment.

He further urged that primary healthcare centres be adequately equipped to provide affordable, timely access to rabies vaccines, and that healthcare workers strictly follow World Health Organization (WHO) protocols when treating dog bite victims.

Addressing the issue of Nigeria’s growing stray dog population, Obi advocated for humane yet firm management strategies. These include capturing, vaccinating, spaying/neutering, and the strict enforcement of dog registration and responsible ownership laws to curb uncontrolled breeding and minimize the risk of dog attacks.