Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has inaugurated members of the National Council on Livestock Development and its Technical Committee, a move aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s livestock industry as a major contributor to economic diversification, food security, rural development and peacebuilding.
Speaking at the ceremony in Yola, the governor, represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, urged the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to expedite support for Adamawa’s Natural Resource Fund Grant Application submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2024.
The proposal seeks funding for a programme titled “Improving Livestock Productivity and Mitigation of Herders–Farmers Conflict through Effective Utilization of Grazing Reserves.”
Farauta also called for federal intervention to support a Model Demonstration Pilot Ranch under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), particularly its pillar focused on ranching, fodder production and value-chain development.
She outlined a series of ongoing state initiatives aimed at revitalizing the livestock sector, including the rehabilitation and demarcation of 69 grazing reserves—32 gazetted and 37 ungazetted—along with stock routes, dam desilting and the provision of watering points. A state office for the NLTP has also been established to strengthen pasture development at the Gongoshi Grazing Reserve.
Other interventions highlighted include the modernization and construction of international cattle and livestock markets, rehabilitation of the Yola Ultra-Modern Abattoirs, and the construction of modern veterinary hospitals, clinics and laboratories.
The state has further established Artificial Insemination Centres across its three geopolitical zones, alongside cold-chain facilities and milk collection centres operated by L-Press.
According to the deputy governor, these measures are designed to boost animal health systems, with intensified disease surveillance and vaccination campaigns against CBPP, FMD, PPR, HS, LSD and rabies.
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Earlier, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who chaired the maiden meeting of the council, encouraged members to strengthen collaboration and attract investment into the livestock value chain.
He said the ministry was established to modernize the sector and reduce recurring conflicts, guided by the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), the National Livestock Master Plan and other policy frameworks.
The council-composed of commissioners and directors of livestock development from all 36 states and the FCT, along with industry stakeholders, held its meeting under the theme “Livestock Rebirth: Accelerating Renewed Hope.” The forum aims to grow the livestock industry from its current $32 billion valuation to $74 billion within five years.
Maiha disclosed that several companies have already indicated interest in investing in dairy, beef, fodder, small ruminants, animal breeding, poultry and piggery production. He added that the ministry has registered eight new pasture species, rehabilitated the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, and expanded national vaccine production capacity from 120 million to 850 million doses annually.
“Our target to double national milk production from 700,000 to 1.4 million metric tons annually is now within reach,” the minister said, stressing the need to reduce Nigeria’s $1.5 billion annual dairy import bill.
