In Nigeria, where livestock management is still largely unscientific, bovine brucellosis is endemic and about 60% of the human population show serological evidence of Brucella abortus infection. Higher antibody titres are found among occupationally exposed people, including cattle herdsmen, abattori workers and veterinarians, than the general population (blood donors). Also, the incidence and level of human infection are significantly higher among the Northern population than those living in the Western state of the country. The differences are related to many factors, including the number of cattle per head of population, the rate of active infection in the cattle herd, the system of animal husbandry and imported bovine infection from neighbouring countries. The economic loss to the livestock industry due to brucellosis, if estimated, would probably run into millions of naira annually, judging from the high rate of abortion among pregnant heifers in some farms. The public health consequences are also enormous, considering the fact that protein undernutrition is very common in Nigeria. Complete eradication of bovine brucellosis is not feasible in Nigeria at present. However, reasonable control measures, based on the existing social and health systems in the country are possible. Immediate interim control measures include hygiene on farms and abattoirs, avoidance of raw milk, and vaccination of cattle in settled herds and people specially exposed to risk of infection. Long-term control measures in the country would include the establishment of public health laboratory service, widespread pasteurisation of fresh milk and the establishment of State-Federal Co-operative Brucellosis Programme. Full co-ordination in the medical and veterinary services are also essential. Eventually, the ideal method of eradication based on test-and-slaughter could be gradually introduced as the standards of husbandry and cattle farming management in the country are improved.