The Borno State Government has called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to support its efforts to restore the state’s once-thriving livestock production sector, which was severely impacted by insurgency.
Governor Babagana Zulum made the appeal on Thursday in Maiduguri, while receiving a delegation from the ministry led by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi.
Zulum highlighted Borno’s former position as Nigeria’s leading livestock producer, noting that the state is determined to reclaim its status. To achieve this, the state government has established the Borno State Livestock Development Agency and is seeking collaboration between the federal ministry, the state Ministry of Agriculture, and the newly formed agency to expedite interventions.
He also mentioned that the state has engaged the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRESS) for assistance in supporting livestock farmers affected by recent floods.
“Borno used to be the largest livestock producer in Nigeria, but due to the Boko Haram insurgency, we lost that position. We are working to recover and bounce back, and to do so, we need the support of the ministry and other stakeholders,” Zulum stated.
In response, Dr. Akujobi conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the ministry to assess the situation in Borno first-hand, emphasizing that interventions should be informed by on-ground realities rather than being developed solely in Abuja.
“The President directed us to come here for an on-the-spot assessment to ensure that we create targeted interventions based on the specific needs observed during this mission,” Akujobi explained.
She also announced plans to activate a livestock emergency operations centre in Borno, supported by L-PRESS, and confirmed that her team had facilitated the delivery of animal feeds to stabilize the food supply chain disrupted by the floods.
The delegation, which included representatives from the African Development Bank and other experts, discussed further ways to support Borno’s livestock sector as part of broader recovery efforts.