Assessing Veterinary Drug Abuse in Livestock Production and Its Regulatory Implications in Benue State

Veterinary drug abuse including unauthorized use, overdosing, and non-observance of withdrawal periods poses direct threats to food safety and contributes to the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. This study assessed veterinary drug abuse practices in livestock production in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, and analyzed the regulatory framework governing drug use. A mixed-methods design was employed, involving a structured survey of 120 livestock farmers across five local government areas and interviews with 15 regulatory officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, NAFDAC, and state veterinary services. A documentary analysis of existing drug regulation policies was also conducted. Survey results showed that 58.3% of respondents administered antibiotics without veterinary prescription, and 64.2% were unaware of withdrawal periods for commonly used drugs. Growth promoter use was reported by 22.5% of commercial poultry farmers. Regulatory officials identified insufficient field inspection capacity, low farmer literacy, and the wide availability of unregistered drugs in rural markets as key challenges. The study concludes that veterinary drug abuse is widespread in Benue State livestock systems, and the regulatory response is inadequate. Recommendations include strengthening drug traceability systems, expanding veterinary inspection capacity, enforcement of prescription-only dispensing for antimicrobials, and farmer training on responsible drug use. Keywords: veterinary drug abuse, antimicrobial resistance, livestock, Benue State, drug regulation