President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government is targeting more than doubling the livestock sector’s current $32 billion annual 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 on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the 9th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture.

The President described the livestock industry as a major pillar of Nigeria’s food system and a significant source of livelihoods and economic opportunities, noting that the sector currently contributes more than $32 billion annually 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,” he said.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s livestock resources included more than 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.

He said his administration had placed agriculture and food security at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 underscored the government’s determination to fundamentally transform the sector.

According to him, the ministry 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, was designed to raise livestock productivity, strengthen value chains, improve animal health services, expand commercial feed production, enhance livestock genetics and promote climate-smart production systems.

“It 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,” Tinubu said.

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.

He added that investment opportunities were 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.

“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.

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 identified the livestock value chain as a major avenue for tackling youth unemployment, saying its development could generate millions of jobs across production, processing, logistics, marketing and other related activities.

“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.

He also stressed the importance of expanding the participation of women and young people in livestock businesses through improved access to finance, innovation, digital technology, value-chain development and private-sector partnerships.

Beyond Nigeria, the President called for greater continental cooperation in tackling challenges confronting Africa’s livestock industry, including animal diseases, climate change, food insecurity, trade barriers and transboundary livestock movements.

“The future of Africa’s livestock industry depends on innovation, science, technology and regional cooperation. No country can achieve sustainable livestock transformation in isolation,” he said.

Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to support stronger regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly in livestock production and trade.

He challenged delegates at the conference 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.

The President assured participants that Nigeria was prepared to collaborate with other 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.

He subsequently declared the conference open, reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to provide leadership in efforts to transform Africa’s livestock sector.