Livestock Ministry Deepens Partnerships to Accelerate Sector Transformation

News in brief:

-Nigeria's Livestock Ministry is expanding partnerships with private companies and stakeholder groups to improve veterinary services, feed supply and sector productivity.

-Organisations including Ambuvet Konsult, Hybrid Feeds and WYLAF expressed interest in supporting livestock sector transformation.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with private sector operators and stakeholder groups to boost productivity and expand opportunities across Nigeria’s livestock value chains.

This commitment was highlighted during separate courtesy visits by delegations from Ambuvet Konsult Nigeria Limited, Hybrid Feeds Limited and Women and Youth in Livestock Development and Food Network Nigeria.

The organisations expressed interest in collaborating with the government to advance livestock development through improved veterinary services, feed production and youth participation.

Ambuvet Model Targets Rural Veterinary Gaps

Leading the Ambuvet delegation, the Team Lead, Shehu Shamsudeen, presented the company’s model for delivering animal health services to livestock farmers, particularly in rural communities.

He noted that despite Nigeria’s large livestock population and rising demand for animal products, the sector continues to face constraints such as limited veterinary coverage, inconsistent vaccine access and preventable livestock diseases.

Shamsudeen explained that Ambuvet operates a network of community-based animal health workers, veterinary paraprofessionals and agro-vets aimed at bridging the last-mile service gap.

Through the initiative, the organisation has supported more than 100,000 smallholder livestock farming households with veterinary services, vaccination campaigns and access to animal health products.

Minister Highlights Need for Collaboration

Responding, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, emphasised that the government alone cannot effectively address challenges in the livestock sector.

He said stronger collaboration with private-sector actors would improve disease control, vaccination programmes, surveillance systems and livestock data management.

Maiha also stressed the importance of strengthening veterinary infrastructure and building the capacity of veterinary paraprofessionals and community animal health workers across the country.

Hybrid Feeds Expands Livestock Nutrition Support

During another meeting, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Feeds Limited, Leye Alayande, briefed the minister on the company’s contributions to livestock nutrition.

According to him, the company operates modern feed production facilities in Kano, Kaduna, Asaba and Ibadan, producing more than 300,000 metric tonnes of feed annually for livestock farmers nationwide.

The company currently supplies feed to more than 5,000 farmers and produces specialised feed for poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, fish, rabbits, pigs, snails and quails.

Alayande added that the company has created over 500 jobs and is expanding operations beyond Nigeria.

Regional Expansion into the Niger Republic

Hybrid Feeds is currently partnering with the government of Niger to supply 33,000 metric tonnes of ruminant feed between 2024 and 2026.

The programme has already supported the growth of more than 50,000 livestock in the neighbouring country, helping to improve pastoral livelihoods and food security.

Maiha commended the company’s role in strengthening livestock nutrition and described its regional expansion as an important opportunity for Nigerian agribusinesses to expand across the Sahel region.

Youth and Women Participation in Livestock

The ministry also hosted a delegation from the Women and Youth in Livestock Development and Food Network Nigeria, led by its President, Amina Kabiru.

The group presented its vision of mobilising women and young people to participate more actively in livestock production and agribusiness.

Maiha encouraged the organisation to expand its membership base and develop credible data systems across livestock value chains.

He assured the group of the ministry’s support, particularly in facilitating access to land for pasture cultivation and livestock production to create more opportunities for women and youth in the sector.