By NEWSCOUNT Desk
President Bola Tinubu has said his administration is targeting more than doubling the current $32 billion annual contribution of Nigeria’s livestock sector to the national economy as part of efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and diversify the economy.
Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, stated this on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the 9th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture.
The President said the livestock sector remained a major source of food, employment and economic opportunities, noting that Nigeria currently has more than 58 million cattle, 64 million sheep, 124 million goats and 660 million poultry species supporting livelihoods across the country.
“Our national strategy aims to more than double the sector’s economic contributions to position Nigeria as a leading hub for livestock production and processing in Africa,” he said.
Tinubu said the Federal Government had placed agriculture and food security at the centre of its Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 marked a major step towards transforming the sector.
“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development marked the beginning of a comprehensive national livestock transformation programme,” he said.
According to him, the ministry was created to move livestock production from largely subsistence and traditional practices to a modern, technology-driven, commercially competitive and globally integrated industry.
He said the government had also approved institutional reforms based on recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms to strengthen governance, improve productivity, promote peaceful livestock production systems and attract private sector investment.
Tinubu said the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy was among the initiatives being implemented to unlock the sector’s economic potential, with emphasis on improving productivity, strengthening value chains, animal health services, commercial feed production, livestock genetics and climate-smart production.
“The strategy focuses on increasing livestock productivity, strengthening value chains, improving animal health services, expanding commercial feed production, enhancing livestock genetics, promoting climate-smart production systems, improving peacebuilding, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for livestock investment and exports,” he said.
The President said the government was also promoting ranching and modern livestock production systems to improve productivity and reduce conflicts associated with traditional livestock practices, while encouraging investments in dairy, meat processing, leather, feed milling and livestock infrastructure.
On dairy production, Tinubu said the government was taking deliberate steps to reduce the country’s dependence on imported dairy products and the foreign exchange spent on milk imports.
“Our ongoing dairy transformation programme seeks to double local milk production through improved genetics, better nutrition, modern breeding systems, and stronger private sector participation,” he said.
He said the programme would support improved breeds, pasture development, commercial feed production, milk collection infrastructure, private dairy investments and modern processing facilities.
Tinubu also identified the livestock value chain as a major avenue for employment creation, particularly for young Nigerians, and said the government was working to increase the participation of women and youths through improved access to finance, innovation, digital technology, value-chain development and private-sector partnerships.
“Millions of jobs can be created for our growing youth population in Africa. The Nigerian government is committed to fully optimising the value chain,” he said.
The President stressed the importance of stronger continental cooperation in addressing animal diseases, climate change, food insecurity, trade barriers and transboundary livestock movements, saying the challenges could not be effectively tackled by individual countries.
“The future of Africa’s livestock industry depends on innovation, science, technology, and regional cooperation. No country can achieve sustainable livestock transformation in isolation,” Tinubu said.
He said Nigeria would continue to support regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, particularly in livestock production and trade, and urged participants at the conference to develop practical recommendations on animal health, disease control, climate-smart production, livestock genetics, regional trade, youth and women empowerment, research, innovation and investment.
Tinubu assured the delegates that Nigeria was ready to work with African countries, development partners, research institutions and the private sector to build a productive, sustainable and globally competitive livestock industry.
“Together, we can transform Africa from a continent with enormous livestock potential into a global leader in livestock production,” he said.
