Taraba State has taken a major step toward transforming its livestock sector with the official commencement of a modern Livestock Service Centre in Sunkani, Ardo-Kola LGA.
The project, initiated by Governor Agbu Kefas, is designed to replace traditional subsistence herding practices with a structured, high-output commercial livestock system.
The centre is being developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a national initiative that selected only five states for its pilot phase, with Taraba among them.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Jeji Williams, the governor described the project as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening food production and expanding the state’s economic base.
At the national level, L-PRES Project Coordinator Dr. Sanusi Abubakar explained that the facility will be managed under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to guarantee efficiency and long-term sustainability.
He added that the PPP structure is currently awaiting ratification by the World Bank to formalize its operational framework.
Providing details of the facility, State Project Coordinator Hananiah Albert said the centre will combine animal care, processing, and business support services in one location.
Key features will include grazing and holding areas, animal handling structures, loading ramps, weighbridges, a veterinary clinic, isolation pens, and a dipping vat.
The project will also incorporate Artificial Insemination units, vaccine storage facilities, feed and fodder warehouses, a feed processing unit, reliable water and electricity supply, waste disposal systems, and durable access roads.
According to Albert, these interconnected services are structured to promote revenue generation, encourage private investment, and create employment opportunities.
When completed, the Livestock Service Centre is expected to significantly improve productivity in Taraba’s livestock industry, enhance resilience in animal farming, and provide sustainable economic benefits to surrounding communities.
