FG Eyes $74bn GDP Contribution from Livestock Sector

News in brief:

-FG targets over $74bn GDP contribution from the livestock sector within a decade.

-Ranching, productivity growth and value-chain investment are central to the strategy.

The Federal Government has announced plans to increase the contribution of Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) from $32bn to over $74bn within the next 10 years.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during a livestock stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Kwara State Government, which brought together more than 250 players across the livestock value chain.

Represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Mark Mbaram, the minister said the Federal Government was committed to repositioning the livestock sector as a major driver of food security, job creation and economic growth.

According to Maiha, food security remains a critical component of national security, underscoring the government’s decision to place livestock development at the centre of its economic agenda.

National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy

Maiha said the ministry had developed a National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy to boost productivity and significantly increase the sector’s economic contribution.

He disclosed that the strategy had been approved by the National Economic Council, with a special committee established to drive ranching as a sustainable model for livestock development.

The minister stressed that open grazing and itinerant herding were no longer sustainable in modern livestock production.

He said ranching offers better animal management, higher productivity and improved returns on investment, adding that the transition away from nomadism was inevitable for long-term sector viability.

Expanding Opportunities Across the Value Chain

Maiha highlighted key opportunities in beef production, poultry, dairy farming and micro-ruminants, noting that the livestock sector had the potential to evolve from a source of conflict into a major economic asset.

He commended the Kwara State Government for its proactive role in livestock development, describing the state as a strategic partner in implementing the ministry’s vision.

In her remarks, the Kwara State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the state was committed to addressing sectoral challenges through inclusive stakeholder engagement and policy-driven interventions.

She noted that participants included poultry farmers, pastoralists, crop farmers, ranchers’ associations, feed millers, professional bodies and youth-led farming groups.

Addressing Years of Sector Neglect

Also speaking, the Director of Livestock Services, Mohammed Ahmad Umar, said the sector had suffered prolonged neglect when it was under the Ministry of Agriculture, despite its vast economic potential.

He said the engagement aimed to unite value-chain actors to identify challenges and develop sustainable solutions, adding that Kwara State was creating opportunities for financial support, market access and off-taker arrangements.

The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Olugbon Abdullateef Salman, emphasised the importance of animal health in livestock productivity.

He urged farmers to prioritise vaccination and proper animal care, noting that disease prevention reduces losses and protects humans from zoonotic infections transmitted through infected animals.

He stated that livestock farming remains highly profitable when supported by sound veterinary practices and effective disease control systems.