In a bid to revamp Nigeria’s livestock sector, which is valued at N33 trillion but contributes less than 3% to the GDP, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee in July 2024. The committee, co-chaired by Professor Attahiru Jega, delivered its inception report, providing strategic recommendations to address challenges in Nigeria’s livestock industry.
Among the issues identified were poor breed quality, high feed costs, limited access to inputs, infrastructure deficits, and farmer-herder conflicts. Key proposals include:
- Breed Improvement: Upgrading indigenous livestock to enhance productivity.
- Infrastructure Investment: Improving livestock extension, veterinary services, and feed production.
- Conflict Resolution: Strengthening mechanisms to resolve herder-farmer conflicts.
- Pastoral Support: Establishing grazing reserves and feedlots for 1.5 million Tropical Livestock Units.
- Mass Animal Tagging: Implementing a national tagging program to track 11.1 million animals.
The report also recommended the establishment of eight new livestock research institutes, focusing on areas like beef, dairy, poultry, and animal diseases. If fully implemented, the committee believes these reforms could modernize the sector, create jobs, and improve food security.
