The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with France in efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) to the Ministry of Livestock Development’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Receiving the AFD delegation, led by its Country Director for Nigeria, Jacky Amprou, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the Agency had shown strong interest in supporting the Federal Government’s livestock transformation agenda, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s National Ranching Policy.
The Minister explained that the proposed collaboration would focus on developing selected grazing reserves as proof-of-concept ranches aimed at cutting down transhumance, boosting livestock productivity, and promoting peace, security and sustainable rural development.
He added that the partnership would complement the implementation of key sectoral initiatives, including the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), the National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP), and the Nigeria Livestock Economic Advancement Project.
Speaking during the visit, AFD’s Country Director, Jacky Amprou, reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to provide both financial and technical support for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s livestock sector, noting that AFD would draw on the wider French ecosystem’s expertise and mobilise relevant stakeholders to work closely with the Nigerian government.
He also acknowledged the Agency as one of Nigeria’s earliest development partners in supporting the rehabilitation of grazing reserves, citing its interventions in Kwara State as evidence of the long-standing partnership between the Ministry and AFD.
