The Nigerian Government has announced plans to accelerate the implementation of the National Ranching Policy as part of efforts to improve livestock production, enhance national security and drive economic growth.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made this known during a stakeholders’ engagement on livestock production held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s livestock sector has enormous potential but has failed to deliver maximum benefits over the years due to poor coordination. He noted that this challenge began to change in 2024 with the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Maiha explained that the federal government, through the ministry, is implementing key reforms aimed at increasing the sector’s contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 32 billion dollars to 74 billion dollars. One of such initiatives is the establishment of National Livestock Centres across the country.
He said the centres are designed to optimise livestock production along the value chain, strengthen food security and reduce farmers-herders conflicts.
During his visit to Kwara State, the minister also attended a poultry summit and inspected some animal feed mills, where he emphasized the need for strong collaboration among stakeholders to reposition Nigeria’s agricultural sector for sustainability and global competitiveness.
The engagement, he said, is part of the federal government’s broader strategy to modernise livestock production and unlock its full economic potential.
