FG Targets $74bn Livestock GDP Contribution Within 10 Years
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to more than double the contribution of Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, projecting growth from $32 billion to over $74 billion within the next decade.
The Minister of Livestock Development disclosed this on Tuesday during a livestock stakeholders’ engagement in Ilorin, Kwara State, where more than 250 participants across the livestock value chain converged to discuss the future of the sector.
Speaking through his Special Adviser, the minister said the government was committed to repositioning the livestock industry as a strategic pillar for food security, job creation and economic diversification.
According to him, food security remains a core element of national security, prompting the Federal Government to place livestock development at the centre of its economic growth agenda.
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To drive the expansion, the ministry has developed a National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which has been approved by the National Economic Council. A special committee has also been established to promote ranching as a sustainable and modern livestock production model.
The minister stressed that open grazing and itinerant herding are no longer sustainable, noting that ranching offers improved animal management, higher productivity and stronger returns on investment.
“The era of nomadism is gradually fading because it is no longer productive or profitable. Ranching is the way forward for modern livestock production,” he said.
He identified major opportunities within the sector to include beef production, poultry, dairy farming, micro-ruminants and large-scale employment generation, adding that a sector once seen as a development challenge could become a major economic asset if properly harnessed.
The minister also commended the Kwara State Government for its proactive role in livestock development, describing the state as a critical partner in delivering the Federal Government’s vision.
In her remarks, the Kwara State Commissioner for Livestock Development said the state was focused on tackling challenges facing the sector through stakeholder engagement and policy-driven solutions.
She noted that participants at the engagement included poultry farmers, pastoralists, crop farmers, ranchers’ associations, feed millers, veterinary professionals, animal scientists and youth-led farming groups.
Also speaking, a senior official of the ministry said the livestock sector had suffered years of neglect despite its vast economic potential, adding that coordinated reforms could significantly boost national output.
Another official emphasised the importance of animal health, urging farmers to prioritise vaccination and proper veterinary care to prevent disease outbreaks, reduce losses and protect public health.