FG Targets 7,000 Jobs Through Ranching - Mukhtar

News in Brief:

—Nigeria's Federal Government is set to create 7,000 direct jobs through a new estate-based ranching programme designed to modernise livestock production and create opportunities for youths and women.

—The initiative will support growth across the dairy, red meat, leather, feed and fodder value chains, while attracting investment and improving livestock infrastructure nationwide.

The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, recently disclosed a job creation plan during a strategic engagement with the management of Access Bank Plc in Abuja.

According to the minister, the estate-based livestock management model would provide structured opportunities for young people and women to participate in ranch operations and other livestock-related enterprises.

“The programme is projected to create about 7,000 direct jobs while supporting growth across the dairy, red meat and leather value chains,” Mukhtar said.

Financing and Infrastructure

Mukhtar said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s livestock industry, particularly in dairy production, meat processing, feed and fodder development, and leather manufacturing.

He stressed the need for financing mechanisms tailored to the livestock sector, especially dairy farming, which often requires longer production cycles before yielding returns. The minister noted that the dairy industry alone could generate significant economic value if supported through stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and private investors.

As part of the infrastructure drive, the ministry is pursuing the establishment of modern abattoirs across selected states and the Federal Capital Territory. Each facility is expected to process at least 1,000 cattle daily, improving meat quality, safety standards and efficiency across the livestock value chain.

Mukhtar also highlighted feed and fodder development as a priority area, describing animal nutrition as a major determinant of livestock productivity. The ministry is working to expand pasture cultivation nationwide and establish feed resources closer to production centres to reduce transportation costs and improve operational efficiency.

Access Bank Signals Interest

Earlier, the Public Relations Manager of Access Bank, Jonathan Oloniyo, expressed the bank’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry in advancing initiatives aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s livestock industry. Access Bank's involvement suggests that the ministry is already seeking a financing partner to help turn the ranching programme from a policy proposal into a commercially viable project.