The Federal Government has said that it is working on a strategic plan through the expansion of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development that would bring in an additional $75 billion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, stated this while presenting the ‘Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy 2025-2030’ at the ongoing 2025 Ministerial Briefing tagged ‘The Take-Off Point,’ which commenced Friday in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria aims to expand the livestock sector’s GDP from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035.
He said, “Nigeria aims to expand the livestock sector’s GDP contributions from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035, positioning itself as a key player in both domestic and international markets for animal protein, similar to leading producers like Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
“Our goal is for Nigeria’s livestock sector to become a major contributor to GDP, increasing from 5% to 10% by 2030, creating millions of jobs and producing sufficient meat, dairy, and other animal products to not only meet domestic demand but also compete in the global market. Over the past few months, we have laid the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
To realise this target, Maiha said the ministry aims to boost production, improve animal health, and guarantee food security through 10 strategic pillars, including “Livestock Value Chain Development, Animal Health and Zoonoses Control, Feed and Fodder, Water Resources Management, and Finance and Insurance.”
Others, he said, include “Infrastructure Development and Waste Management, Peace Building, Security and Social Cohesion, Livestock Extension Services, Youth and Women Empowerment in Livestock, as well as Statistics and Information Management.”
He added that despite challenges such as poor infrastructure and low investment in the sector, the government, under the current leadership, remains committed to meeting all set goals and targets.
He explained that the ministry’s budget revealed that the Federal Ministry’s N11.8 billion is broken down as follows: N1.8 billion for overhead costs and ₦10 billion for capital expenditure.
