FG promises quick wins from livestock investments, partnerships

The Federal Government has said ongoing partnerships and investment commitments in the livestock sector will begin yielding visible results within months, as the maiden National Council on Livestock Development (NCLD) opened on Monday in Yola, Adamawa State.

Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, told delegates that several bilateral and private-sector engagements initiated over the past year have matured into concrete expressions of interest across key value chains such as dairy, beef, fodder, small ruminants, poultry, piggery, animal breeding and traceability.

“We will see the physical manifestation of these engagements in a few months,” the Minister said, noting that development partners are already backing dairy projects, peacebuilding programmes and climate-smart livestock production.

He said the interventions are expected to improve incomes, strengthen animal health systems, and reduce conflict for pastoralists and farmers.

Maiha said the new Council will coordinate national strategies, deepen collaboration and attract investment to reposition livestock as a driver of economic diversification, food security and rural development.

The ministry, created 16 months ago, aims to expand the sector’s economic value from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035, guided by the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy and the National Livestock Master Plan.

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Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Adamawa State Governor, represented by Kaletapwa George Farauta, deputy governor of the state said livestock has long been central to the state’s economy, noting that Adamawa created a livestock ministry more than two decades ago.

He called for federal support to scale the state’s Pilot Ranch Project under the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

In his keynote address, Attahiru Jega, special adviser to the President on Livestock Reforms, urged the conversion of long-standing conflict corridors into structured fodder production hubs that create economic opportunities for farmers and pastoralists.

Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the Council’s inauguration marks a new phase for the sector anchored on innovation and private-sector-led growth.

Messages of support were delivered by lawmakers, state officials and development partners before dignitaries toured an exhibition showcasing dairy, beef, poultry, fodder, breeding and veterinary innovations.

The event, themed “Livestock Rebirth: Accelerating Renewed Hope,” ends today.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.