The Federal Government has disclosed plans to increase the contribution of Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product from $32bn to over $74bn within the next 10 years.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ilorin during a livestock stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Kwara State Government, which brought together over 250 players across the livestock value chain.
Represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Mr Mark Mbaram, the minister said the Federal Government was committed to repositioning the livestock sector as a major driver of food security, job creation, and economic growth.
According to him, food security remains a critical component of national security, hence the decision of the Federal Government to place livestock development on the front burner. He said the ministry had developed a National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy aimed at boosting productivity and increasing the sector’s contribution to the economy.
“The strategy has been internalised and approved by the National Economic Council. A special committee has also been set up to focus on ranching as a sustainable model for livestock development,” he said.
Maiha noted that the era of open grazing and itinerant herding was no longer sustainable, stressing that ranching remained the most viable option for modern livestock production.
