After more than a decade of neglect, work has resumed on what is expected to become the largest veterinary hospital in Nigeria, located along the Birnin Kebbi–Kalgo Road in Kebbi State.
Governor Nasir Idris officially relaunched the project, originally abandoned 13 years ago by previous administrations.
The hospital, which covers approximately ten hectares of land, is designed to house multiple units including surgical, ultrasound, laboratory, admission, administrative, and livestock feed storage sections. It will be equipped with modern veterinary tools and staffed by professionals in various areas of animal health and livestock management.
During an inspection of the ongoing construction, Kebbi State Commissioner for Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries, Alhaji Kabir Usman Alaramma, described the project as a landmark initiative for both the state and the country.
“This hospital is the largest hospital in the whole of Nigeria, not only in the whole Northern states,” Alaramma told journalists. “Let me appreciate the efforts of the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris for completing this project that was abandoned for good 13 years.”
According to the commissioner, the state holds significant potential in livestock production. “We have the largest livestock population in the country. We have the Director of Animals Husbandry, Director of Veterinary Public Health, Director of Ranch Management who is in charge of all ranches and livestock routes in the state,” he said.
Alaramma added that the government’s goal is to improve the economic well-being of the state through investment in the livestock sector.
“As we explained to the federal ministry of livestock, we have 25 state grazing reserves in Kebbi state, we have 12 livestock routes in the state. We also have 74 LGAs grazing reserved routes.
“We also have 76 livestock markets in Kebbi state. Some are international markets. Kebbi state has the largest potential in livestock sector in Nigeria,” he said.
He also outlined the intended purpose of the hospital, saying, “Our mission for this hospital is ensure that it serves as the reference center in Nigeria which would improve the standard of livestock in the country. Our livestock farmers in the state would acquire new modern system of rearing livestock so that they could transform from old system of livestock farming to the modern way of rearing livestock so that at the end, we could improve on our dairy production, beef production in the sector.”
The commissioner confirmed that the hospital is expected to be completed by early 2026. Upon completion, Governor Idris plans to invite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Livestock Development to commission the project.
Speaking during the inspection, Director of Veterinary Services in the state Ministry of Animal Health, Dr. Alheri Ibrahim Senchi, said the hospital would serve as a training facility for students in veterinary and livestock studies across the country.
He also spoke about an emerging partnership between Kebbi State and Brazil. “For Brazil to partner with Nigeria, through Kebbi state, means that they recognize the richness of livestock in Kebbi state. They also recognize our resources and manpower to provide excellent health and wellbeing of our animals,” Senchi said.
“It is well known that if you want to export your beef to any country, it has to be satisfied by appropriate agency, to meet international standard,” he added.
Senchi explained that the new hospital would be equipped with the necessary technology for artificial insemination, including laboratories capable of semen collection, processing, and storage.
Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, Managing Director of S. Fulani and Sons Nigeria Limited, the firm in charge of the project, commended the governor for bringing the project back to life.
“Our own is one of such projects abandoned for many years,” he said.
Kiruwa also described the hospital as an important asset, not only to Fulani pastoralists but to all categories of livestock farmers across the state, including pig farmers.
He urged livestock owners to make full use of the facility once it is completed and shift towards more modern, efficient practices.