President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s livestock farming sector, emphasizing the importance of avoiding past mistakes made by previous governments that neglected this vital industry.
According to The PUNCH, he made these remarks on Thursday while inaugurating a two-day consultative workshop on livestock reforms held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The event aimed to chart a new course for the sector, which has historically struggled with underinvestment and low productivity.
In a statement shared by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu highlighted the urgent need to break away from the nation’s reliance on imported dairy products.
“Neglecting livestock farming in the past was a mistake that should not be repeated,” he declared, underscoring the administration’s goal to establish a robust framework that fosters prosperity in livestock farming.
He pledged that the government would revamp and reposition the sector to stimulate job creation and attract Foreign Direct Investment.
Tinubu expressed his concern about the current state of livestock production in Nigeria, noting, “The livestock sector is critical, and we will give all it needs to bring value to our country. Stakeholders, I assure you that you will not regret the collaboration and investment in this sector.” He lamented the inadequate provision of basic nutritional resources for children, stating, “It is about time that we do it right. A country of over 200 million people cannot serve our children one pint of milk in a classroom per day? That is not right.”
The President commended the Presidential Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, co-chaired by Prof. Attahiru Jega and Prof. Muhammed Yahaya Kuta, for their dedication to revitalizing the sector.
He expressed a shared vision for transforming livestock farming from a subsistence model into a thriving, commercialized industry that would significantly contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and provide sustainable livelihoods.
Highlighting Nigeria’s potential, Tinubu noted the nation’s impressive livestock statistics, “With 563 million chickens, 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep, and 16 million pigs, Nigeria is the leading livestock producer in West Africa.” However, he pointed out the discrepancies between production and consumption rates, stating, “Yet, despite this vast resource, we face stark realities.”
He cited the country’s low output of animal-source foods, with milk production at only 0.7 billion liters and meat at 1.48 million tonnes, which is insufficient to meet domestic needs.
Worried about the low per capita consumption of animal products in Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized that the figures—8.7 liters of milk, 9 kg of meat, and 3.5 kg or 45 eggs per person per year—are troublingly below global averages.
He highlighted the need for improvements in livestock yields, particularly in milk production, where local breeds are yielding between 0.5 to 1.5 liters daily, compared to a global average of 6.6 liters.
Addressing the economic implications of neglecting the livestock sector, Tinubu pointed out that this oversight has led to a significant burden on Nigeria’s import bills, with dairy products alone costing between $1.2 to $1.5 billion annually.
“Yes, we can do it. We can bring prosperity to our people. We can feed our children,” he stated, illustrating the potential benefits of investing in livestock.
Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for their support in reforming animal farming.
He encouraged collaboration among states to promote livestock farming as part of a broader food security strategy.
“We didn’t see the cold room investment. We didn’t see that opportunity before now. But it is coming. We are going to give it all it takes,” he remarked, acknowledging the progress made since the inauguration of the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee.
He praised key figures in the initiative, including APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, for their roles in advancing the livestock reform agenda.
“We can create a vivid picture of the future we want to see; it’s the future of our country,” Tinubu concluded, emphasizing the transformative potential of the livestock sector for Nigeria’s economy.
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRazak reassured the President of full commitment from subnational entities to ensure the success of these reforms, stressing that improving livestock farming is crucial not only for food security but also for national security.
He lamented that previous initiatives had often languished in bureaucratic inefficiencies due to a lack of political will.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, expressed his gratitude for the President’s decisive leadership and commitment to livestock reform.
He assured that his ministry would collaborate closely with the Ministry of Livestock Development to realize the President’s vision of a diversified economy that empowers more Nigerians.
