By Ibrahim Aliyu (Yola)
The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Council on Livestock Development (NCLD), a high-level body created to drive sweeping reforms and unlock billions of dollars in new investments in Nigeria’s livestock Industry.
The Council held its inaugural meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, marking what officials describe as the country’s most ambitious livestock transformation in decades.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the government aims to grow the industry from its current $32 billion value to $74 billion in five years, anchored on the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy and the National Livestock Master Plan.
He said multinational and local companies are already in talks with the ministry for major investments across dairy, beef production, fodder cultivation, breeding, poultry, piggery and digital traceability systems.
Mr Maiha highlighted key accomplishments within the ministry’s first year, including the registration of eight new pasture species — the first in nearly 50 years — and the completion of a national strategy on animal genetic resources.
He added that the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) programme has delivered solar-powered vaccine rooms, boreholes, dips, milk collection centres and slaughter slabs.
The minister also announced that laboratories at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom have been rehabilitated, increasing vaccine production capacity from 120 million to 850 million doses annually.
Mr Maiha said the newly commissioned Wase Livestock Village would serve as a model for modern ranch-based settlements across 417 grazing reserves nationwide.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, reaffirmed Adamawa’s long-standing leadership in livestock development.
Governor Fintiri outlined reforms including the rehabilitation of 69 grazing reserves, modernised markets, dams, watering points, artificial insemination centres and strengthened veterinary systems.
He sought renewed federal support, urging the reconsideration of the state’s Natural Resource Fund application and backing for its pilot ranch project.
The chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Livestock, Mr Musa Mustapha and Mr Tasir Raji, pledged full legislative support for the transformation agenda, including new bills to strengthen value chains, improve land use systems, advance ranching reforms and boost investor confidence.
Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle
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