The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector through the establishment of modern abattoirs, expansion of local livestock vaccine production, development of disease free zones and increased private sector investment, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Olumide Ojo, has said.
Ojo disclosed this in an interview with AgroNigeria where he outlined the practical outcomes Nigerians should expect from the ongoing livestock reforms and how the initiatives are expected to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists, strengthen food security and make animal protein more affordable.
He revealed that several modern abattoirs are being developed through partnerships between the Federal Government, private sector operators and international development partners, noting that the facilities would significantly increase Nigeria’s meat processing capacity.
According to him, a single modern abattoir could require about 1,000 cattle daily to sustain its operations, creating substantial economic opportunities across livestock production, transportation, animal healthcare, logistics and extension services.
He explained that establishing similar facilities in six locations across the country could generate demand for approximately 6,000 cattle daily, with far reaching implications for livestock farmers, pastoralists, traders and other operators across the value chain.
Ojo noted that Nigeria’s inability to meet international demand for red meat, particularly from Gulf countries, has been partly linked to concerns about animal diseases and inadequate certification systems.
He said the government was therefore developing animal disease free zones to enable livestock raised in designated areas to meet the health and certification requirements for slaughter, processing and export.
According to him, the initiative would position Nigeria to take advantage of international meat markets while strengthening disease management and improving the quality of livestock products.
On animal healthcare, Ojo disclosed that the government was also working to expand local vaccine production capacity through the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), which currently meets only about 10 to 20% of Nigeria’s livestock vaccine requirements.
He described the situation as a major concern for national biosecurity and vaccine security, explaining that the country currently relies on imports to meet as much as 80% of its livestock vaccine demand.
He warned that dependence on imported vaccines could expose Nigeria to supply disruptions, particularly during disease outbreaks when urgent access to vaccines becomes critical.
However, he said the administration, with support from international partners, including the United Kingdom government and the World Bank, was expanding the institute’s production capacity, with a target of increasing output to about six times its current level.
He added that the expanded capacity would not only serve Nigeria but could also support vaccine requirements across West Africa, positioning the country as a major regional supplier.
Addressing concerns about the inclusion of pastoralists and small scale livestock farmers in the ongoing reforms, Ojo said the Ministry of Livestock Development was prioritising direct engagement with stakeholders to ensure that policies reflected their actual needs.
He explained that the Ministry was consulting different categories of pastoralists and livestock value chain operators rather than making assumptions about their challenges and expectations.
According to him, meaningful inclusion requires giving affected communities the opportunity to participate in designing the policies and programmes intended to transform their livelihoods.
He stressed that pastoralists must be recognised as important stakeholders in the livestock economy and not merely as beneficiaries of government interventions.
Ojo also said the Ministry was working to change the negative perception surrounding pastoralism by highlighting the economic opportunities and development potential within the livestock sector.
On the expected impact of the reforms on food affordability, he identified breed improvement and increased productivity as critical strategies for reducing livestock production costs and improving access to animal source protein.
He explained that improved animal breeds could deliver significantly higher output from the same production resources, giving farmers a productivity advantage and creating opportunities to sell at more competitive prices.
Using dairy production as an example, he noted that while some cattle breeds produce only two or three litres of milk daily, other breeds can produce between 50 and 60 litres under suitable conditions.
He said improving the productivity of local livestock breeds would help increase output, reduce production costs and strengthen the supply of meat, milk, eggs and other animal source foods.
The SSA further disclosed that the Ministry was pursuing the establishment of Livestock Development Centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones to drive investment and strengthen production.
He explained that the centres would operate through collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments and private sector investors.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Government would provide the necessary policies, regulations and standards for livestock production, processing, vaccination, disease management and exports.
State governments would provide land and supporting infrastructure, while private investors would establish farms, processing plants, cold rooms and packaging facilities.
Ojo said the centres would adopt a state based approach that recognises the livestock production strengths of different locations.
For instance, states with established pig production activities could prioritise that subsector, while other states would focus on livestock species and activities for which they have comparative advantages.
He said the model would encourage investment across cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and other livestock subsectors, while creating stronger production and processing systems.
Emphasising the distinction between production and productivity, Ojo explained that increasing productivity would enable farmers to obtain more output from the same level of investment, thereby reducing production costs and potentially lowering prices for consumers.
He, however, acknowledged that making food more affordable would require addressing several structural challenges and building the necessary foundations for an efficient livestock market system.
Speaking on the broader economic implications of the reforms, Ojo maintained that sustained policy implementation was essential to attracting investment, strengthening markets and creating prosperity.
He argued that reforms, although sometimes difficult at the initial stage, must be sustained to deliver their intended benefits, warning that abandoning them midway could undermine progress and discourage investors.
He noted that effective policies, clear regulations and a supportive business environment were necessary to encourage private sector participation and unlock the livestock sector’s economic potential.
Ojo further disclosed that the Ministry was working towards increasing the contribution of the livestock sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from $32 billion in 2023 to $91 billion by 2035.
He said achieving the target would require sustained reforms, strategic investments, improved productivity and stronger partnerships among government, private investors and existing livestock operators.
He maintained that the success of the reforms would depend not only on policy announcements but also on their consistent implementation and the ability to translate investments into tangible economic benefits for Nigerians.
