*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at a recent Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms in Abuja, pledges his administration鈥檚 support to revamping and repositioning livestock farming sector to create employment and attract Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

In a bid to revamp and reposition the livestock farming sector of the Nigerian economy to create employment and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the consumers that the past mistakes, such as neglecting the all-important industry, and relying on dairy imports, would not be repeated.

President Tinubu, who gave the assurance when he opened a two-day Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the State House Conference Centre, in Abuja, FCT, pledged to design a robust framework to stimulate prosperity in the sector, instilling confidence in his commitment to the sector.

The Nigerian leader also pledged Federal Government鈥檚 support to revamping and repositioning the sector to create employment opportunities while attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, noted President Tinubu stated: 鈥淭he livestock sector is critical, and we will give all it needs to bring value to our country.

“Stakeholders, I assure you that you will not regret the collaboration and investment in this sector.鈥�

The President said: 鈥淚t is about time that we do it right. A country of over 200 million people and cannot serve our children one pint of milk in a classroom per day? That is not right.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see the investment opportunities. We didn鈥檛 see the economy of livestock in the past.

“Now that we have seen it, we must work together to restart the sector.鈥�

Tinubu as well commended Prof. Attahiru Jega, Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, and Prof Muhammed Yahaya Kuta, Secretary of the Committee, for their commitment to repositioning the livestock sector.

The President stated: 鈥淥ur shared mission is clear: we aim to transform the livestock sector from its current subsistence model into a thriving, commercialised industry, an industry that significantly contributes to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and provides decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods for our growing population.

鈥淭he potential is immense: With 563 million chickens, 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep, and 16 million pigs, Nigeria is the leading livestock producer in West Africa.鈥�

He likewise said: “Yet, despite this vast resource, we face stark realities.

鈥淥ur annual production of animal-source foods, like milk at 0.7 billion litres, meat at 1.48 million tonnes and eggs at 0.69 million metric tonnes, falls far short of our needs.

“Our per capita consumption levels鈥�8.7 litres of milk, 9 kg of meat, 3.5kg or 45 eggs per year鈥攁re troublingly low compared to global averages.鈥�

The Nigerian President also noted: “These are 44 litres of milk, 19 kg of meat and between 160 and 180 eggs per year.

鈥淲hat is more worrisome to me is the average milk yield by cow breeds managed by our pastoralists: it is a mere 0.5 to 1.5 litres per day, compared to a global average of 6.6 litres per day. We can do much better!鈥�

Tinubu averred: 鈥淭he long-term neglect of the livestock sector has weighed heavily on the country’s import bills, with milk and dairy products accounting for $1.2-1.5 billion.

鈥淵es, we can do it.

鈥淲e can bring prosperity to our people. We can feed our children. From grass, we can achieve grace.

“We can contribute so much to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide decent jobs.鈥�

The President lauded the Nigeria Governors鈥� Forum (NGF), chaired by the Governor Abdurrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, for supporting the reform of animal farming in the country, stated Onanuga.

Tinubu stated: 鈥淵our Excellency, Chairman of the NGF, Abdulrazaq, thank you for assuring C-of-Os and other instruments from other areas.

鈥淚 also know that the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, with the vast land in his domain in Niger State, will accommodate many investors.鈥�

The President further said: 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see the cold room investment. We didn鈥檛 see that opportunity before now. But it is coming. We are going to give it all it takes.

鈥淭he opportunity is there; when I inaugurated the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee, I didn鈥檛 see the path clearly until they started working. Thank you, Prof Attahiru Jega.鈥�

He as well acknowledged Abdullahi Ganduje, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for nurturing the idea of reforming the livestock stock, Nuhu Ribadu, national security Adviser, and Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, for their commitment to realising the dream.

Tinubu explained the livestock farming project: 鈥淲e can create a vivid picture of the future we want to see; it鈥檚 the future of our country.

鈥淭he economic opportunities for our children, and with that effort, we can say God bless Nigeria.鈥�

In his remarks on the occasion, Governor Abdulrazak, Chairman of NGF, assured of the 鈥�100 per cent buy-in of the subnational to make the reform a success because it is not just food security, but national security.鈥欌��

The Kwara State Governor also thanked President Tinubu for leading the initiative by chairing the implementation committee, regretting that past efforts in the same direction were reduced to files in the Ministries of Agriculture in states and local councils due to lack of political will.

The Governor also stated that each state should create a segment for livestock farming and extend the value chain to meat and dairy production.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, applauded the President for his 鈥渂old action, exemplary leadership and unparalleled commitment to livestock reform.鈥欌��

Kyari, therefore, assured the stakeholders of working with the Ministry of Livestock Development to realise President Tinubu鈥檚 vision to diversify the economy and empower more Nigerians.

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