NAF, Livestock Ministry Explore Partnership for Food Security

News in brief:

-The Nigerian Air Force has sought a partnership with the FMLD to scale its agricultural investments and integrate into national livestock frameworks.

-The Ministry plans to develop 417 grazing reserves into disease-free zones to enhance productivity and access premium red meat export markets.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has initiated discussions with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) to strengthen collaboration on livestock development and national food security.

The delegation, led by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, paid a courtesy and partnership visit to the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha.

Welcoming the delegation, Maiha described the Air Force’s agricultural initiative as aligned with global best practice linking food production to national security and operational readiness.

“Everybody is a farmer,” the minister stated, adding that the growing participation of the armed forces in livestock development reflects recognition that food security underpins national security.

Food Integrity and Operational Readiness

Maiha stressed that sustainable food systems are critical to maintaining the welfare, health and combat readiness of personnel. He noted that modern security threats extend beyond armed conflict to include deliberate or accidental disruptions to food supply chains.

He disclosed that the Ministry has inventoried 417 grazing reserves, covering approximately five million hectares nationwide, and is implementing a structured settlement model to boost productivity, ensure biosecurity compliance, and establish internationally certified disease-free zones.

According to him, each grazing reserve will be developed as a disease-free compartment, a prerequisite for accessing premium international red meat markets.

Positioning for Gulf Market Opportunities

The minister further stated that Nigeria is positioning itself to tap into a growing multi-billion-dollar red meat market in the Gulf region. He emphasised that partnerships with institutions capable of providing structured security and surveillance would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in export markets.

He assured the Air Force of the Ministry’s readiness to provide technical advisory services, veterinary support, capacity building and policy integration to align its agricultural initiatives with national livestock development frameworks.

NAF Farm Expansion Plans

Air Vice Marshal Gabkwet commended the Federal Government for establishing the Ministry as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic diversification agenda, and praised the ongoing reforms within the livestock sector, including international engagements on genetics and dairy production, vaccine regulation reforms, and the establishment of National Livestock Centres.

He disclosed that the Air Force launched a 2,000-hectare farm initiative in 2021 and recently formalised NAF Farms and Agro-Allied Services Limited to scale livestock and crop production across designated locations.

The Pioneer Managing Director of the company, Air Vice Marshal Abdulrasheed Kotun, outlined plans for a pilot agricultural estate in Abuja incorporating cattle, sheep, goats and poultry production, supported by advanced security systems, including UAV surveillance and fortified perimeter infrastructure.

The Air Force delegation sought the Ministry’s support in areas such as improved breed access, veterinary services, training and integration into national livestock programmes.

Senior officials from the Ministry, including directors, heads of departments and the Senior Special Assistant to the minister, attended the meeting, which concluded with an exchange of commemorative souvenirs as a gesture of institutional goodwill.