Mariyah Adamu, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has said that efforts are underway to harness the use of livestock byproducts including bones, hides, and horns, which are currently underutilised.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated this at the commencement of the 2025 ministerial press briefing in Abuja, last Friday, organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Maiha, stated that by 2027, the livestock industry in Nigeria is projected to create over 500,000 jobs, significantly reducing unemployment and boosting rural economies.
He, noted that proper processing of the byproducts estimated, could generate up to N23 billion in additional revenue and create 700,000 jobs.
According to him, if livestock byproducts are fully harnessed farmers stand to make more profits that will invariably “crash meat price”.
Given the role of accurate data as the President Bola Tinubu’s administration moves to boost the country’s livestock industry, he stated that the ministry is leveraging technology to conduct livestock census.
In this vein, he recalled that “The last official census was in 1991, making current figures unreliable. A national livestock identification and tracking system has been launched to monitor animal populations, prevent theft, and improve disease management”.
Nigeria, he added currently imports $1.5 billion worth of vaccines annually.
However, stated that plans are underway to commercialise the National Veterinary Research Institute to ensure the domestic production of at least 1.2 billion vaccine doses per year, the Minister stated.
“Currently, the livestock sector contributes approximately 5% to Nigeria’s GDP. The ministry’s ambitious goal is to double this contribution through policy reforms, investments, and increased production. Strategies include increasing milk yields from the current 2 liters per cow per day to at least 30 liters and improving beef cattle growth rates to reach market weight within two and a half years”, he stated.
Therefore, the federal government through the ministry set an ambitious goal to increase the livestock sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035 as Nigeria as a major player in both domestic and global animal protein markets, competing with leading producers such as Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of the news drive to achieve this vision, the ministry has been actively engaging stakeholders, including traditional rulers, development partners, and foreign embassies, with a view to raising awareness and attract Investments.
Maiha, also made known the federal government’s plan to establish a gene bank to preserve the genetic makeup of indigenous livestock breeds and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
The Minister stated that the gene bank would enable the country to store its indigenous genetic resources, which are naturally disease-resistant.
The minister described the move as crucial to maintaining the country’s unique livestock breeds rather than replacing them.
“We intend to integrate our indigenous breeds into modern livestock production systems and conduct crossbreeding so that those elements of indigenous genetics are preserved for national growth”, he said.
“We have the largest livestock population in Africa, a rapidly expanding market for meat and dairy products, and a strategic location for agricultural exports.
“However, poor infrastructure, inadequate investment, outdated production methods, and persistent conflicts between farmers and herders have prevented the sector from reaching its full potential.
“President Bola Tinubu established the ministry to drive a new era of transformation, innovation, and sustainable growth.
“For the past few months, we have laid the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.
“Our goal is for Nigeria’s livestock sector to become a major contributor to GDP, increasing from the current five per cent to 10 per cent by 2030 and creating millions of jobs.
“Also, within this period, our aim is to produce sufficient meat, dairy, and other animal products to not only meet domestic demand but also compete in the global market”, he said.
