The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, received a delegation from Edo State led by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Ignatius Ikponmwosa Omorodion, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The visit comes on the heels of the creation of the Edo State Ministry of Livestock Development, a strategic initiative by the state government to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthen national efforts towards achieving food security.
In his remarks, Minister Maiha commended the Edo State Government for establishing a dedicated ministry for livestock development, describing it as “a forward-thinking step that will ensure targeted growth and sustainability across the livestock value chain.”
He expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate closely with Edo State, beginning with a joint inventory of livestock assets, including ranches, abattoirs, breeding centres, and veterinary infrastructure.
“Our priority is to modernise the entire value chain,” the Minister stated. “We must transition from manual slaughter slabs to hygienic, mechanised abattoirs located within disease-free zones. This is critical for ensuring public health, food safety, and job creation. Edo has the potential to become a major livestock hub for the South-South, with the capacity to supply processed red meat across the region and beyond.”
The Minister also revealed plans to visit Edo State in the first quarter of 2026 to inspect key livestock facilities and engage stakeholders across the value chain.
In his remarks, Professor Omorodion reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo to working with the Federal Government to unlock Edo’s vast livestock potential. He noted that the state is strategically positioned as a major hub for livestock production and processing in the South-South, with expansive grazing reserves, diverse livestock species, and a longstanding tradition of ranching.
The Commissioner outlined several ongoing initiatives in the state, including the establishment of modern veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and artificial insemination centres, as well as partnerships with development organisations to enhance breeding, disease control, and farmer livelihoods.
He appealed for the Ministry’s technical and policy support in key areas such as modernising abattoirs, strengthening livestock markets, improving feed production, reviving dormant ranches, and implementing animal identification and traceability systems to bolster security and disease surveillance.
The visit underscored the shared commitment of both the Federal and Edo State Governments to foster sustainable livestock development, improve food safety standards, and create inclusive economic opportunities within Nigeria’s livestock sector.
