The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has officially inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Climate Change to mainstream climate action within Nigeria’s livestock sector. The inauguration ceremony, held on Thursday in Abuja, was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ijeoma Akujobi, on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Mukhtar Idi Maiha. In her opening remarks, Dr. Akujobi described the formation of the TWG as “timely and essential”.
According to her, climate change is a core consideration in all livestock development strategies. The TWG, initially comprised 14 members drawn from across departments within the ministry, but was expanded at the inauguration to include two additional members: Mr. Richard Mark, Special Adviser to the Minister, and Muna Racheal, a communications consultant to the ministry.
Dr. Akujobi stated that the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) 2025–2030 would be the guiding document for all ministry activities, and climate change considerations are deeply embedded within it. She charged the TWG to ensure the ministry benefits from global carbon credit opportunities and other climate finance mechanisms.
She suggested the group consider courtesy calls to the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) and the Ministry of Environment. The PS further urged members to ensure the ministry’s active participation in relevant national and international climate change programs and related activities.
She also stressed the importance of participation in both national and international climate programs, requesting members to submit “Back-to-Office Reports” after meetings and to cascade all gained knowledge throughout the ministry.Speaking on behalf of the TWG members, Dr. Ishiyaku Mohammed, Director of Sanitary Mandate and Climate Change, commened the ministry leadership for their support.
“We are proud to be the first MDA to establish a dedicated Technical Working Group on climate change,” he noted. Dr. Mohammed vowed that the team will develop both an action plan and a communications strategy as directed. He also revealed that the international development partners, including GIZ through the LIVeSYS project and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), have expressed interest in providing technical support.
Highlighting the urgency of their mission, he said: “Africa contributes the least to greenhouse gas emissions but suffers the most. Our ministry is keen on tapping into carbon credit systems, especially since the NL-GAS is designed to be private-sector driven.”
He explained that a Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system would be developed based on a baseline survey, the funding for which had already been approved. Dr. Mohammed also shared the positive relationship the ministry has established with the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, which now sees the ministry as “young but committed and responsive in the climate space.”
He noted that the team played key roles in ensuring that livestock-specific measures were reflected in Nigeria’s latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Regarding the delay in activating Nigeria’s carbon credit policy, he said the primary obstacle was the delay in convening a presidential council meeting. “Once the council is convened, we expect the document to be ratified as a national policy,” he stated.
Dr. Mohammed assured the ministry leadership of the TWG’s dedication, saying, “We will not disappoint. Our work will yield visible results.”
The event concluded with each TWG member making a personal pledge to commit to the group’s objectives and support climate-smart development in Nigeria’s livestock sector.
