Nigeria unveils 15-year livestock investment blueprint to boost food security, jobs

The Federal Government has launched a 15-year National Livestock Master Plan (NLMP) aimed at transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a major driver of food security, rural prosperity and economic growth.

The plan, developed in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), was formally presented to Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, and Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) at a handover ceremony in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Mukhtar described the plan as “not merely a document, but a blueprint for transformation,” stressing that livestock contributes 17% to agricultural GDP and 5% of national GDP, sustaining millions of livelihoods despite persistent challenges such as low productivity, disease outbreaks, and poor infrastructure.

“The National Livestock Master Plan is our response to these challenges, a strategic pathway for sustainable growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive prosperity,” the minister said.

He cited Tanzania’s 2018 livestock master plan, which attracted over $624 million in investments, as proof of the transformative potential of such initiatives.

Presenting the technical details, Sirak Bahta said the NLMP was the product of two years of research, policy analysis, and stakeholder consultations. It identifies cattle, poultry, small ruminants, pigs, and feed systems as priority value chains, alongside strategies for breeding, genetics, animal health, feed and pasture development, and market access.

According to Bahta, without intervention, Nigeria’s growing demand for meat, milk, and eggs will far exceed domestic supply, deepening import dependence. However, with targeted investments, the country could not only meet its needs but also emerge as a regional livestock hub.

Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry directors, and ILRI’s Senior Agricultural Economist, Dolapo Enahoro, also attended the event.

Officials said the NLMP is expected to mobilise both public and private investments while aligning with Nigeria’s Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).

Key projections of the plan include expanding pasture cultivation and feedlot modernisation to raise productivity by up to 40%, raising vaccination coverage to 75% and training community animal health workers to reduce livestock mortality by 65% and promoting community breeding programmes while safeguarding indigenous species

Others include enhancing gender inclusion through financing and technology support for women in the dairy, poultry, and small ruminant value chain.

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.