The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has outlined the ministry’s goals to modernize Nigeria’s livestock sector and create economic opportunities across various areas, from beekeeping to cattle, camels, and donkeys.
In his statement, the Minister emphasized the importance of data-driven policies to guide the development of the sector, which currently contributes 9% to the nation’s GDP, valued at $32 billion.
Maiha projected that with targeted investments in breeding, animal health management, feed production, and market expansion, the livestock sector could grow to $74 billion by 2035. He highlighted efforts by the Ministry to digitize grazing routes, with plans to regrass 417 grazing reserves to improve pasture for pastoralists. Additionally, he said that subnational governments have been asked to allocate land for pasture production, particularly for fodder export, with a global market demand valued at $2.09 billion.
The Minister also emphasized the creation of disease-free zones at Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Mambila Plateau, and other locations to facilitate the production of healthy animals for both domestic and international meat markets. Maiha added that structured livestock development is not only an economic necessity but also a strategy for peacebuilding, as it will help address the ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders in the country.
This information was part of a statement issued by Ben Bem Goong, Director of the Information and Public Relations Department at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
In his remarks, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, welcomed the Minister and expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s support in repositioning Benue as a leader in livestock production. Alia noted that agriculture in Benue had long been dominated by crop production, with livestock development largely overlooked despite its potential to address food insecurity, create wealth, and boost the state’s GDP.
Governor Alia reiterated his administration’s commitment to making livestock development a priority, pointing to the establishment of the Bureau for Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Diseases Control. He further emphasized the state’s livestock farming potential, noting that Benue has 25,500 sq. km of arable land suitable for livestock production. The Governor also mentioned the state’s plan to adopt the “Pasture as a Fodder Crop” strategy in 2025, aimed at cultivating improved pasture that could be sold to regions with high livestock populations, especially cattle and other ruminants.
Governor Alia also outlined several state-owned livestock facilities, such as the Ikyôgen Cattle Ranch and Resort, the Livestock Investigation and Breeding Centre in Raav, and the Makurdi International Cattle Market, which require rehabilitation and modernization. He requested the Federal Government’s intervention in upgrading these facilities. The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (as amended), urging the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to lead the way in national legislative reforms that will establish ranching as the standard practice for livestock management in Nigeria.
The summit also featured an inspection by the Minister of livestock production inputs, including animal feed and health-related products. The Minister visited the Swine Improvement Centre at the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture in Gboko, as well as the cattle breeding farm at RAAV in Gwer West Local Government Area. He assured that his Ministry would allocate sufficient resources to rehabilitate and upgrade these facilities.
In a lighter moment during the summit, Governor Alia, with the assistance of the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education TrustFund, Architect Sunny Echono, decorated the Minister and other prominent figures with Tiv and Idoma traditional attire. The Governor also gave the Minister a new name, “BEMDOO,” meaning “peace is good.” As a result, the Minister of Livestock Development is now referred to as an ambassador of peace.
