Adamawa Takes a Lead in National Livestock Transformation
In a significant move to reshape Nigeria's agricultural landscape, the Adamawa State Government has inaugurated the members of the National Council on Livestock Development and its Technical Committee. The event, which took place in Yola, marks a pivotal step in the federal government's plan to transform the livestock sector into a major engine for economic growth and stability.
State Government Outlines Ambitious Plans and Seeks Federal Support
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, used the platform to appeal for federal backing. He specifically called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to support Adamawa's Natural Resource Fund Grant Application, which was submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2024.
This proposal seeks funding for a critical programme titled Improving Livestock Productivity and Mitigation of Herders–Farmers Conflict through Effective Utilisation of Grazing Reserves. Furthermore, the state requested federal intervention for a Model Demonstration Pilot Ranch under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), focusing on economic investment in ranching and fodder production.
Deputy Governor Farauta detailed the state's extensive efforts to modernize its livestock sector. She revealed that the government is actively working on 69 grazing reserves—32 gazetted and 37 ungazetted—through rehabilitation, demarcation, and the provision of essential infrastructure like stock routes and watering points.
Comprehensive Modernization of the Livestock Sector Underway
The state's initiatives extend far beyond grazing reserves. Professor Farauta listed a series of projects designed to create a fully modernized livestock value chain. These include:
- The construction of international cattle and livestock markets.
- Rehabilitation of the Yola Ultra-Modern Abattoirs.
- Building state-of-the-art veterinary hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.
- Establishing Artificial Insemination Centres across the state's three geopolitical zones.
- Setting up cold-chain facilities and milk collection centres operated by L-Press.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to strengthen animal health systems, with a particular focus on disease surveillance and control. The government is conducting vaccination campaigns against major livestock diseases, including CBPP, FMD, PPR, HS, LSD, and rabies.
Federal Vision: A $74 Billion Livestock Industry in Five Years
Chairing the inaugural council meeting, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, urged members to foster collaboration and attract investments. He stated that the ministry was established to modernize the sector and reduce conflicts, guided by the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the National Livestock Master Plan.
The council, which includes commissioners and directors from all 36 states and the FCT, has set an ambitious target. Its inaugural meeting, themed Livestock Rebirth: Accelerating Renewed Hope, aims to grow the industry from its current valuation of $32 billion to $74 billion within five years.
Minister Maiha announced that several companies have expressed interest in investing in various segments, including dairy, beef, and fodder production. He also highlighted key federal achievements, such as the registration of eight new pasture species and the massive expansion of the national vaccine production capacity from 120 million to 850 million doses annually.
Perhaps most notably, the minister declared that the target to double national milk production from 700,000 to 1.4 million metric tons annually is now within reach, a crucial step towards reducing Nigeria's staggering $1.5 billion yearly dairy import bill.
