The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria’s livestock sector could expand into a ₦74 billion industry by 2035 if its vast potential is fully harnessed. The projection was disclosed in Abuja by Sale Momale, Special Assistant to the Minister of Livestock Development, during a high-level workshop on promoting peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists.
The workshop, organised under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, focused on how the media can drive positive narratives and foster investment in the livestock sector.
Mr Momale explained that with the right policies, mass citizen mobilisation, and investment across the livestock value chain, Nigeria’s agriculture could undergo a major transformation. He emphasised that the media has a critical role to play in correcting misconceptions about pastoralism and promoting peace in the face of persistent herder-farmer conflicts that have crippled the sector for years.
According to him, insecurity, outdated practices, and limited investment remain major challenges, but the government has already rolled out strategies to empower producers and value-chain actors in cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry production. He noted that beyond boosting food security, the livestock ministry’s agenda is designed to create jobs, reduce youth unemployment, and expand opportunities for women in agribusiness.
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“We are optimistic that with structured production, modern methods, and strategic investment, the livestock sector will transform Nigeria’s economy and achieve ₦74 billion growth by 2035,” Momale said. He added that the ministry’s framework also includes funding models to attract youths into livestock farming, making it a profitable and sustainable career path.
Supporting the vision, Damian Ihekoronye, Advocacy and Coalition Lead at the SPRING programme, urged the media to embrace conflict-sensitive reporting in covering farming and pastoralist issues. He stressed that better communication and awareness can foster harmony while unlocking the huge economic opportunities within the livestock sector.
Ihekoronye further explained that the ministry’s reforms were not just about increasing livestock production but about modernising practices in a way that would reduce conflicts, improve livelihoods, and significantly boost Nigeria’s GDP. “The transition from old methods to modern systems of livestock management will be economically beneficial to every Nigerian,” he said.
With the government’s renewed focus, experts say Nigeria’s livestock sector is on track to become one of the biggest drivers of agricultural growth and rural development, positioning the country as a continental leader in modern livestock production.
