Jigawa takes bold step in livestock development

The Jigawa State government is taking bold steps to transform its livestock sector, amid collaborations with the federal government to boost food security, create jobs, and grow its economy.

The government disclosed the efforts at the Jigawa State Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms held Friday, at the Manpower Development Institute (MDI), in Dutse.

The workshop, which was organized by the Jigawa Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (JLRIC) with the participation of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee led by Attahiru Muhammad Jega, brought together stakeholders to map out a brighter future for the sector.

Speaking at the event, Governor Umar Namadi stressed the importance of livestock to Jigawa’s economy and culture, saying that livestock and animal husbandry is not just an economic activity in the state, but a way of life for most families.

He noted that the sector accounts for almost 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022, and is considered to be very critical to the development of the state’s economy and the attainment of a ‘Greater Jigawa’ vision.

He shared his administration’s 12-point agenda for livestock development, which includes programmes to improve animal breeding, expand dairy production, support farmers and also reechoed the government’s plans to create a Ministry for Livestock Development.

“This was what informed our proposal to establish, in due course, a whole Ministry for Livestock Development with a mandate to implement our policies and programmes aimed at an accelerated development of the livestock sector with a view to optimizing its contribution to our quest for food security and economic diversification.

“This would ensure that maximum attention is accorded to all the key components of the sector as outlined in our 12-point agenda,” he stated

The governor highlighted recent successes, like training 300 community animal health workers, vaccinating over 560,000 animals, and gazetting 57 grazing reserves across the state.

“While we recognize that there is still much to be done, these achievements are only the beginning and just to count a few.

“They reflect our determination to create an enabling environment for a vibrant, productive and a thriving livestock sector,” he added.

Also, in his address, Attahiru Jega, co-chairman of the PLRIC, lauded Jigawa State for its leading role in developing the livestock sector in the country.

“The governor’s decision to chair a 17-member committee on livestock reforms shows how serious he is about this sector. It is a clear sign of his dedication to improving lives and driving innovation,” he said.

Jega shared exciting news that JBS S.A., a renowned global livestock company, is set to invest $2.5 billion in Nigeria’s livestock sector, focusing on the development of ranches and modern processing plants.

He emphasized the need for sustainable growth and urged Jigawa to take proactive measures by establishing a dedicated livestock agency, expanding grazing reserves, and implementing an advanced animal tracking system to enhance efficiency, security, and productivity in the sector.

“Jigawa is in a great position to lead Nigeria’s livestock revolution, creating jobs and boosting the economy,” he pointed out.