President Bola Tinubu reassured Nigerians on Thursday that his administration is committed to correcting past mistakes that left the livestock farming sector neglected. He emphasized the need to become self-sufficient and reduce reliance on dairy imports.
During the opening of a two-day consultative workshop on livestock reforms at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu expressed his determination to foster growth and prosperity within the sector. He emphasized that his government will implement a robust framework to revitalize and reposition livestock farming, creating jobs and attracting foreign direct investment.
“The livestock sector is critical, and we will ensure it receives the attention it needs to contribute value to our country. Stakeholders can expect meaningful collaboration and investment in this sector,” he stated, highlighting the necessity for every child in Nigeria to have access to milk in school.
Tinubu also acknowledged the efforts of the Presidential Livestock Reform Implementation Committee and stressed the shared mission to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry from a subsistence model to a thriving commercial sector, significantly contributing to the nation’s GDP.
Despite Nigeria being the leading livestock producer in West Africa, with substantial numbers of chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs, he noted that current production levels fall far short of needs. Tinubu pointed out that annual production of milk, meat, and eggs is insufficient, leading to troublingly low per capita consumption figures compared to global averages.
The President lamented the long-standing neglect of the livestock industry, which has resulted in heavy import bills, particularly for dairy products, and emphasized the potential for economic transformation through improved livestock farming.
Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for their support in the reform of animal farming, urging collaboration at all levels to achieve success. He reiterated that the initiative is essential not only for food security but also for national security.
In response, the Kwara State Governor assured full commitment from subnational authorities to ensure the reform’s success and highlighted the importance of state-level initiatives in livestock farming as part of a comprehensive value chain.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security commended the President’s leadership in driving livestock reform and pledged to work towards diversifying the economy and empowering more Nigerians through this initiative.
