Farming: Lagos Govt. Launches 1st Tele-Veterinary Call Centre in Nigeria

Nigeria’s first Tele-Veterinary Call Centre was launched by Lagos State Government on Friday at Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems Animal Hospital in Oko-Oba, Agege.

The Tele-Veterinary Call Centre is a digital platform designed to provide real-time veterinary support to farmers and pet owners across the country.

The State:s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, in his speech on the occasion disclosed that the initiative was made possible through a strategic partnership with Etsu Digital Nigeria Ltd.

The agric commissioner stressed that the centre aligns with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment in deploying technology to enhance efficiency, empower farmers, and protect public health.

She explained that farmers and pet owners have long struggled to access timely professional veterinary care, especially in remote communities, stressing that the Tele-Veterinary Call Centre now provides a groundbreaking solution by making certified veterinary expertise readily accessible through mobile phones.

According to her, the platform builds on two existing mobile-based services available on MTN and Glo networks: M-Agric, which offers daily expert tips and value-chain mentorship for farmers, and M-Health, a tele-veterinary companion that provides practical, easy to understand guidance for livestock and pet.

Olusanya pointed out that by dialing 20791#, users can subscribe and instantly access both services, and that the newly launched call centre goes further by offering live, real-time support delivered by certified Lagos State Veterinary Consultants.

“The Centre, fully equipped and staffed by certified Lagos State Veterinary Consultants, will provide 24/7 emergency support, first-aid instructions, disease-prevention guidance, and professional veterinary advice for livestock, pets, and even crops.

The Commissioner noted that the service is free for active M-Agric and M-Health subscribers, while new users can access expert support for as low as ₦100 per day.

This affordability, she said, eliminates barriers such as long-distance travel, clinic queues, and emergency costs.

“Tele-VET is more than a digital helpline; it is a strategic tool for safeguarding public health, strengthening food safety, and boosting productivity across the agriculture sector.

“By improving disease surveillance and limiting the spread of zoonotic infections, the platform supports the global One World, One Health framework, which recognizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health.

“Healthy animals mean higher yields, reduced losses, stronger livelihoods, and greater resilience — all central to Lagos State’s food security agenda,” she said.

Olusanya pointed out that with the call Centre in operation, the state expects significant improvements across the sector, including reduced animal mortality, faster disease reporting, improved access to veterinary expertise across all communities, enhanced data for policy planning, and strengthened support for the veterinary hospitals and field operations.

She stated that from Ikorodu to Epe, from Surulere to Agege, and the entire length and breadth of Nigeria, this service will support farmers, pet owners, and animal health practitioners at every level.