By Akinnodi Francis,Ondo
The Federal Government of Nigeria have said Africa’s livestock sector has the potential to become a major driver of food security, industrialisation, employment and sustainable economic growth on the continent.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this on a national television programme monitored by THE HOPE at the weekend.
He said the growing African population and rising demand for animal protein made the repositioning of the livestock sector imperative.
According to him, livestock was not only a source of food and nutrition, but also a strategic economic asset capable of creating jobs, supporting livelihoods and contributing to industrial development.
The minister noted that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration had placed agriculture and food security at the centre of its Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the livestock sector.
“The ministry’s establishment marked the beginning of a comprehensive national livestock transformation programme aimed at moving livestock production from subsistence and cultural practices to a modern, technology-driven and commercially competitive industry.”
He said the government was implementing key reforms based on the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms to strengthen governance, improve productivity, promote peaceful and sustainable livestock production systems and attract private-sector investment.
Maiha said the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy was among initiatives being implemented to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
He said the strategy focused on increasing productivity, strengthening value chains, promoting ranching and modern production systems, improving animal breeding and genetics, strengthening veterinary services and disease surveillance, and attracting investment into dairy, meat processing, feed production and livestock infrastructure.
He said the government was also pursuing dairy transformation through improved genetics, nutrition, breeding systems, pasture development, commercial feed production, milk collection infrastructure and modern processing facilities.
He, therefore, called for stronger regional cooperation, harmonised standards, improved disease-control systems and greater integration of livestock value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said given the challenges of climate change, population growth, conflicts, emerging animal diseases, supply-chain disruptions and rising food prices.
He said the challenges also presented an opportunity for Africa to harness its natural resources, scientific capacity, youthful population and entrepreneurial energy to build a modern livestock economy.
The minister said Africa’s livestock resources could support domestic food demand while positioning the continent as a competitive player in international markets, while stressing the importance of the AfCFTA in creating integrated livestock value chains across national borders.