The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has launched a collaborative effort with national and international partners to draw up a practical and cost Implementation Plan for the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), with the aim of transforming the sector into a $74 billion industry by 2035.
This was the focus of a two-day Expert Group Meeting which began Monday, July 21, at the African Development Bank Nigeria Country Office in Abuja.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from CGIAR centres, research institutions, private sector actors, and government agencies to refine how Nigeria can unlock the full economic potential of its livestock industry in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his opening address, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, highlighted the enormous opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
His words: “Livestock remains a pillar of our economy and food security, while also being a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our task, therefore, is to develop pathways for livestock development that are productive, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable.”
He noted that the NL-GAS, already approved by the National Economic Council, is built on ten strategic pillars—including livestock value chain development, animal breeding and health, feed and fodder expansion, infrastructure, and market access.
According to the Minister, the strategy seeks to grow the sector from its current value of \$32 billion to $74 billion by 2035, while doubling the national livestock herd.
“But the true value of any strategy lies in its effective implementation,” he said, urging that the final plan must include a clear budget, funding sources, and practical steps for execution.
“We need to know what each intervention will cost, what resources are required from government, development partners, and the private sector, and how these can be mobilized to ensure the plan is not merely aspirational but practically executable.”
He commended the design of the meeting, which allows institutions and agencies to pitch specific interventions.
“This gathering is not just the usual talk shop, but one that intends to inject expertise and resource interventions into the Ministry’s plan to reposition our livestock sector,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. (Mrs) Chinyere Akujobi, also stressed the importance of alignment between proposed interventions and the strategic pillars of the NL-GAS.
She said the Ministry expects tangible support from development partners and private sector actors in areas such as livestock genetics, disease surveillance, feed production technologies, and market linkage platforms.
“We anticipate interventions that will support the deployment of feed processing technologies, vaccine distribution systems, value addition equipment, export facilitation, and extension services,” she said. “Climate-resilient practices and dispute resolution mechanisms will also be critical in creating a sustainable and productive environment for livestock production.”
Akujobi emphasized that state governments, as frontline implementers, must be provided with practical guidance that reflects their unique contexts and capacities.
“Your expertise and willingness to collaborate are crucial in ensuring that the NL-GAS implementation plans translate into tangible and scalable actions at both federal and sub-national levels,” she said.
Both the Minister and the Permanent Secretary expressed appreciation to the participants—many of whom traveled at their own expense—for their dedication to advancing Nigeria’s livestock sector.
“This tells me of your deep passion to see our livestock sector grow and your commitment to see the sector projected into and active in the global economic arena,” said Alhaji Maiha.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of a practical roadmap for executing the NL-GAS, including institutional arrangements, monitoring mechanisms, and financing strategies that will be cascaded to states across Nigeria.
