The Federal Government has unveiled its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector through innovation. This initiative aims to create jobs, enhance food and nutrition security, and address conflicts affecting farming and pastoral communities.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) platform workshop in Abuja, organised by the African Union Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha highlighted the government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders across all levels to achieve sustainable reforms.
Maiha emphasized the significant contribution of the livestock sector to Nigeria’s economy, noting that it accounts for 30 per cent of the rural economy and, alongside agriculture, 10 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “I am optimistic that this project will positively impact the growth and development of the livestock sector,” he said.
The minister outlined several priority areas for reform to ensure the sector’s transformation:
- Productivity Enhancement: Boosting the productivity of producers and enterprises.
- Animal Health and Breeds: Revamping animal health delivery systems and improving livestock breeds.
- Infrastructure Development: Establishing critical infrastructure to support livestock activities.
- Market Expansion: Strengthening market access and fostering regional coordination, particularly within West and Central Africa.
- Investment Growth: Scaling up investments and encouraging private sector participation.
- Data Management: Creating robust systems for livestock data and information management.
- Climate Action: Addressing climate change impacts on livestock production.
- Conflict Mitigation: Tackling conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
Maiha commended AU-IBAR for selecting Nigeria and Kenya as pilot countries for the APMD project. He pledged Nigeria’s support in developing policies and implementing programs to achieve the project’s objectives.
Stakeholder Perspectives
The project coordinator of APMD, Prof. Ahmed Elbeltagy, lauded Nigeria’s leadership in the livestock sector, describing the country as a “lighthouse nation” driving innovation in Africa.
In a communique presented by Mr. Bello Tukur, participants expressed satisfaction with the workshop, which provided a platform to set priorities and actionable growth strategies.
Participants identified key priorities for the success of the APMD project:
- Strengthening public-private partnerships to attract investments.
- Promoting regional and international trade by removing barriers and harmonising policies.
- Enhancing logistics and services to improve pastoral livestock trade.
- Strengthening data governance and knowledge sharing within the livestock value chain.
- Building a comprehensive data ecosystem for marketing pastoral livestock.
The Federal Government’s partnership with AU-IBAR and other stakeholders signals a transformative phase for Nigeria’s livestock sector, poised to unlock its economic potential while addressing longstanding challenges.
