Nigeria's Livestock Ministry Partners World Bank, AFDB For Climate Action

News in brief:

-Nigeria’s Livestock Ministry seeks World Bank and AFDB collaboration on climate resilience and sustainable livestock growth.

-Focus areas include methane reduction, climate-smart data systems and access to carbon markets.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AFDB) to address climate change challenges affecting Nigeria’s livestock sector.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, made this announcement while receiving a delegation from the World Bank Mission and the African Development Bank, along with members of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change, in Abuja.

She revealed that the proposed collaboration aligns with the Ministry’s mandate to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on livestock production, protect livelihoods and promote environmentally responsible practices across the value chain.

Livestock Sector Climate Change Vulnerability

Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Ohaeri Stephen Ezenwa, Akujobi noted that the livestock sector remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing to food security, nutrition, employment and rural livelihoods.

“Despite its importance, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change, with far-reaching implications for animal health, feed and water availability, productivity, greenhouse gas emissions and overall sustainability,” she said.

She added that these challenges highlight the urgent need for evidence-based policies, reliable data systems and coordinated national action to drive climate-smart livestock development.

Technical Working Group Targets Data-Driven Growth

In a presentation, the Director (Technical) in the Office of the Permanent Secretary and Team Lead of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change, Dr Alike Peter, explained that the team was established to support the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy.

He stated that the strategy aims to double the livestock sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from about $32 billion to $74 billion within ten years.

According to him, whether growth is driven by improved efficiency or expanded livestock numbers, both approaches have implications for greenhouse gas emissions, feed, water and land-use management, making climate considerations central to sector planning.

Dr Alike further confirmed that the working group is prioritising the generation of evidence-based national data on short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane and nitrous oxide, to guide policy formulation and decision-making.

He disclosed that the ministry is working with partners, including the World Bank, to measure methane emissions using FAO-approved models and direct measurement methods, while collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to ensure data quality and national ownership.

He added that these efforts are aimed at establishing a national methane baseline, developing mitigation and adaptation measures, building institutional capacity and positioning Nigeria to strengthen its Nationally Determined Contributions, access carbon markets and advance climate-smart livestock systems.

World Bank Identifies Blue Economy Opportunities

Speaking at the meeting, the World Bank Group Representative and Senior Fisheries Specialist, Dr Harrison Charo Karisa, identified three major opportunity areas. These include climate-smart aquaculture for methane reduction and productivity, the blue economy, such as seaweed farming and value chains for women and youth employment, and results-based finance and carbon markets linked to methane abatement and nature-based solutions.

He noted that seaweed, which grows naturally in aquatic environments, can also be used as a nutritious livestock feed supplement rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Chief Livestock Officer at the AFDB, Dr Youssouf Kabore, commended the Ministry’s proactive approach to addressing climate change in the livestock sector. He assured the Bank’s commitment to supporting the implementation of practical, scalable and impactful climate interventions across Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

Other participants at the meeting included Directors of the Ministry as well as representatives of GIZ, Netzence Sustainability Limited and 3logy Limited.