President Bola Tinubu has said the federal government is targeting more than double the livestock sector’s current $32 billion yearly contribution to Nigeria’s economy as part of efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and diversify the nation’s economic base.
   
Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated this yesterday in Abuja while declaring open the 9th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture.
   
He described the livestock industry as a major pillar of Nigeria’s food system and a significant source of livelihoods and economic opportunities, noting that though the sector currently contributes over $32 billion yearly to the national economy, “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.”
   
Tinubu said Nigeria’s livestock resources included over 58 million cattle, 64 million sheep, 124 million goats and 660 million poultry, stressing that the scale of the sector presented significant opportunities for investment, employment and value addition.
   
According to him, his administration had placed agriculture and food security at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda, with the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 underscoring the government’s determination to fundamentally transform the sector.
   
The ministry, he explained, was established to move livestock production beyond predominantly subsistence and traditional practices to a modern, technology-driven, commercially viable and globally competitive industry.
   
Tinubu said the government had also approved institutional reforms based on the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms to strengthen governance, improve productivity, promote peaceful livestock production systems and attract private investment.
   
He identified the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy as one of the key initiatives being implemented to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
   
The strategy, he said, “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.”
   
The president said the administration was also promoting ranching and other modern livestock production systems to improve productivity while addressing conflicts associated with traditional livestock practices, with investment opportunities being expanded across the value chain, including dairy, meat processing, leather, feed milling and livestock infrastructure.
   
On dairy production, Tinubu said the government was taking deliberate steps to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported milk and other dairy products, which consume significant foreign exchange, doubling local milk production through improved genetics, better nutrition, modern breeding systems and stronger private-sector participation.
   
The programme, he added, would support improved breeds, pasture development, commercial feed production, milk collection infrastructure, private dairy investments and modern processing facilities.
   
Tinubu further stated that Nigeria would continue to support stronger regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly in livestock production and trade.
   
Therefore, he challenged delegates to develop practical recommendations capable of advancing animal health and disease control, climate-smart production, livestock genetics, regional trade, youth and women empowerment, research, innovation and investment.
 
For his part, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, urged participants to use the conference to forge stronger partnerships, deepen scientific collaboration and mobilise investment capable of transforming the agricultural sector.
   
Also, the Interim President of the All-Africa Society of Animal Production, Prof. Mizeck Chagunda, called for greater collaboration among scientists, farmers, policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders to accelerate livestock development on the continent.
   
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, noted that Africa’s growing population, changing food systems, climate challenges and expanding markets made it imperative for stakeholders to reposition animal agriculture as a major contributor to food security, livelihoods and economic growth.