FG unveils state-specific livestock centres to drive $74bn sector growth
FG unveils state-specific livestock centres to drive $74bn sector growth
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish state-specific Livestock Development Centres as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector and increase its contribution to the economy from $32bn to at least $74bn by 2035.
The initiative, being implemented through federal, state and private-sector partnerships, will allow participating states to select livestock species or value chains based on their agro-ecology, producer base, feed and water resources, market demand, social acceptance and investment potential.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, made this known during a press briefing with journalists on Friday in Abuja.
The minister said the initiative was designed to operationalise the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which was approved by the National Economic Council.
“This is about operationalising the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which was approved by the National Economic Council.
“The NL-GAS has a 10-pillar roadmap to remove systemic bottlenecks and attract large-scale private investment, with an ambition to increase livestock-sector GDP contribution from US`$32 billion to at least US$74 billion by 2035.
“Livestock Development Centre model is therefore an implementation instrument for a nationally endorsed strategy,” Maiha said.
According to the ministry, the Federal Government would be responsible for national policy, technical standards, food safety and animal health protocols, traceability requirements, data systems, investor facilitation and regulatory coordination, while states would provide suitable land, local infrastructure, community engagement, security coordination and producer mobilisation.
Maiha said, “Nigeria’s livestock transformation will succeed only if the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and State Governments act as partners with distinct but complementary responsibilities.”
He added, “The Federal Government can set national policy, technical standards, food-safety and animal-health protocols, traceability requirements, data systems, investor facilitation and regulatory coordination.
“The states are indispensable because they possess the practical levers that determine whether investment reaches the farm: suitable land, local infrastructure, community legitimacy, local security coordination, producer mobilization, extension linkages and the authority to integrate livestock development with each State’s wider economic plan.”
Under the proposed arrangement, states would, after consultations with livestock producers, community leaders and other stakeholders, determine the species or livestock value chain to be developed.
The states would also allocate suitable and uncontested land and provide agreed enabling infrastructure, while the FMLD would provide expert advice, standards, facilitation, national coordination and regulation within its mandate.
Producers, cooperatives and private investors would finance and operate the commercial components of the value chains.
The ministry stressed that the proposed centres would not be government farms or isolated construction projects.
“The proposed centres are not to be treated as government farms or isolated construction projects. They are to be commercially oriented livestock productive alliance platforms that combine public goods with investable businesses,” he stated.
The minister said the centres could attract investments in feed and fodder, breeding, animal health, aggregation, cattle finishing, dairy chilling, sheep and goat fattening, poultry meat and eggs, pig progeny centres, pig feedlots, modern modular pork abattoirs, meat processing, cold-chain storage, transport, biogas, organic fertiliser, hides and skins, tanneries and leather works.
“By July 2024 when FMLD was created by Mr. President there were only three states with similar Ministries of Livestock. Today we have twenty (20) States with Ministries or Agencies with dedicated focus on the livestock sector.
“Therefore, there are huge opportunities for institutional synergy and cooperation between the Federal Government and the Sub-nationals,” he stated.
The ministry said the framework would not impose a uniform livestock value chain on states, noting that each state would determine its priority based on its own livestock resources.
“The state will freely choose and validate its priority species or value-chain according to its own naturally endowed livestock resources,” he noted.
The model would support food and nutrition sovereignty, job and wealth creation, rural development, peace, social harmony and shared prosperity.
The ministry identified low genetics, water scarcity, land administration and utilisation, limited access to quality farm inputs, expensive and scarce feed and fodder, inadequate veterinary and extension services, insecurity, low private investment, and weak infrastructure and logistics among the challenges affecting the sector.
He said the regional imbalance in livestock production also made a state-specific approach necessary, noting that the North had a larger livestock population while the major market basin was in the South.
“While the North has a larger population of livestock, the market basin is in the Southern part. There is no security of supply in this model.
“The journey of over 1000km to supply live animals from the North to the South is fraught with high risks,” the minister stated.
He said each state should therefore develop an investment plan based on its comparative advantage and the species available in the area.
“Rather each State needs an investment plan that can build on its own comparative opportunity to develop the species it is endowed with at the scale it wants to supply local market demands. This should therefore, be demand-driven,” he added.
On land access, community confidence and local security, the ministry said states should lead transparent site selection, community engagement, land documentation and local infrastructure, while the FMLD would provide national standards and technical assurance.
The ministry said the proposed centres would be open, regulated and commercially oriented clusters, with private operators investing in and managing revenue-generating assets such as feed mills, hatcheries, breeding facilities, feedlots, dairy chilling plants, abattoirs, processing units, cold rooms, logistics fleets, biogas plants, organic fertiliser plants and leather enterprises.
It said each centre should have one primary commodity and, where justified, one complementary chain.
He also referenced the upcoming 15,000ha Livestock Development Centre in Ubahu-Nkanu East, Enugu State, for cattle ranching, dairy and leather works; the MilkyWay Dairy in Bokkos, Plateau State; the 900-hectare Niegev Goat Ranch in Vandikia, Benue State; the N120bn Gombe State Livestock Development Centre; and the Mafa Livestock Development Village in Borno State.
“The Livestock Development Centres would be designed so that women and young people are not limited to short-term training or low-value informal tasks. They should be visible in enterprise ownership, value addition and service delivery,” he said.
“The transformation of Nigeria’s livestock sector requires a model that respects the diversity of the Federation while mobilising the power of private sector capital and coordinated investments along the value-chains.”
He added, “FMLD will not develop every species in every location in the country. States on the other hand require national technical, regulatory, financial and market support.
“The answer therefore, is a disciplined federal- State- Private Sector Partnerships that will drive the desired transformation.”
