FG Moves to Transform Livestock Sector into Wealth Generator for Nigerians
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has taken a step to turn the livestock business into a big money-maker for the country and a way to ensure every Nigerian has enough food to eat.
On Monday in Abuja, the government inaugurated a new group called the Technical Sub-Committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Livestock Development.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, spoke during the first meeting of the group. He explained that the team was put together to organize all the different plans the government has for cattle, goats, and poultry.
Their main job is to create a clear “road map” or plan that the government can start using immediately to improve the lives of those in the livestock business.
Senator Bagudu made it clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is personally interested in making this work. He said the President does not see livestock as a small side business, but as a main engine that will grow Nigeria’s economy. The Minister noted that this is why the President even created a brand-new Ministry of Livestock Development.
“Our task is not to start from the beginning. A lot of work has already been done. What we need to do now is to take all those reports and turn them into a clear, easy-to-follow plan that the National Economic Council can approve quickly,” the Minister said during the meeting.
The Minister also mentioned that the President believes livestock is very important for the country’s progress. He said, “Mr. President has consistently said that livestock is a central driver for food security and making sure everyone grows together. His decision to lead the Presidential Committee on Livestock Development shows he is very serious about this.”
Senator Bagudu explained that for this plan to work, the federal, state, and local governments must work together as one team. He pointed out that the Ministry of Budget is there to make sure everyone is on the same page so that money and programs are not wasted.
The Minister listed several programs already in place to help, such as the World Bank-supported L-PRES project and the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Plan. This plan aims to find and support business opportunities in all the 8,809 wards across Nigeria.
Addressing the problems often linked to cattle rearing in the past, the Minister said the committee’s work must change the story. He wants the livestock sector to be seen as a source of wealth and peace for the country, rather than a cause of fighting.
“Livestock development requires collaboration across all levels of government. We want to ensure that national plans and budgets work together instead of everyone doing their own thing in isolation,” Bagudu added.
Earlier, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said the meeting was a vital step for the “Renewed Hope” agenda. He noted that if there is no food security, the economy cannot grow, and his ministry is ready to make sure these goals are met.
The meeting was attended by many top officials, including the Minister of Livestock, Alhaji Idi Maiha, and commissioners from states like Cross River, Kebbi, and Niger, showing that the whole country is involved in this new push to modernize Nigerian livestock.
