Adamawa State’s Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture Development, Usman Lamurde, has said livestock production contributes nearly 40% of the state’s annual internally generated revenue, underscoring the sector’s importance to the state’s economy.
He disclosed this at the commissioning of a new veterinary vaccine storage facility in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area.
Lamurde said the investment by the Federal Government would further strengthen a sector that plays a major role in the state’s economy, particularly through improved livestock health and production.
The 40 million dose capacity vaccine facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, during his three day working visit to Adamawa State.
Maiha said the facility was designed to serve as a major storage and distribution centre for veterinary vaccines, with capacity to support livestock disease control efforts in Adamawa and other parts of the North East.
He said the installation would allow millions of doses of animal vaccines to be preserved under controlled temperatures, helping to maintain their quality from the point of storage to distribution.
The minister described the project as part of the Federal Government’s broader plan to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry through stronger animal health systems, improved productivity and better access to essential veterinary services.
The facility was developed under the Livestock Productivity, Resilience and Support Project, a Federal Government programme supported by the World Bank.
According to the National Project Coordinator of L P R E S, Sanusi Abubakar, the facility has been equipped with an off grid solar power system designed to keep the cold storage units running even when conventional electricity is unavailable.
Abubakar said the arrangement would reduce the possibility of vaccines losing their effectiveness as a result of prolonged power interruptions.
He explained that the facility is expected to operate under a public private partnership structure. Under the arrangement, the Federal and Adamawa State Governments will jointly handle half of the operational responsibilities, while private sector participants will take responsibility for the remaining portion.
The Adamawa facility is also expected to become part of a wider national network of veterinary vaccine storage centres. Similar installations have been established in Abuja, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos and Anambra states.
Beyond the vaccine project, the minister used the visit to clarify the Federal Government’s position on its pilot ranching programme, which is being introduced in five states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Maiha said the initiative was not intended to take land from individuals or communities, stressing that the success of the programme would depend on cooperation with state authorities and local communities.
He said state governments would be responsible for identifying appropriate locations for the ranches after consultations with relevant stakeholders and communities.
The minister’s visit to Adamawa also featured the commissioning of several other livestock related projects.
They include an integrated waste management plant, a cattle resting point, the rehabilitation of the Gongoshi Grazing Reserve with additional boreholes, a strategic artificial insemination centre at Adamawa State University in Mubi, as well as a water harvesting facility and weather station.
The projects form part of ongoing efforts to expand livestock infrastructure and improve the conditions under which animals are produced and managed in the state.
The Federal Government has also recently moved to strengthen the information systems supporting the livestock industry through the validation of the National Livestock Information Management System.
The platform is expected to bring together livestock information from state governments, industry associations, field personnel, development organisations and relevant government ministries.
