The Taraba State Government has commissioned key livestock infrastructure and distributed productive assets to farmers under the World Bank–supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in a bid to strengthen food security and boost the state’s livestock sector.
The facilities were inaugurated on weekend at the Veterinary Hospital Complex in Jalingo by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Oliver Namessan.
Namessan said the initiative underscored the state government’s commitment to transforming the livestock sector to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods and ensure sustainable food security.
Facilities commissioned include a Disease Surveillance Laboratory, a solar-powered cold chain facility, an Artificial Insemination Centre and a milk cooling van.
According to the commissioner, the infrastructure will enhance animal health systems, improve disease detection and control, boost livestock productivity and support the One Health approach that links animal, human and environmental health.
The commissioner also announced the distribution of 200 fodder choppers and 30 motorcycles to livestock farmers and extension service providers. He said the assets would improve feed processing, increase productivity and strengthen extension service delivery, particularly in rural communities.
Namessan commended the L-PRES State Coordinating Office for effective implementation of the project and expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and development partners, especially the World Bank, for their continued support. He urged beneficiaries to use the facilities and assets responsibly to ensure long-term benefits.
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In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Hananiah G. Albert, described the commissioning as a major milestone in the implementation of L-PRES in Taraba State.
Albert said the project has made targeted investments across priority livestock value chains—cattle, sheep and goats, poultry and dairy—across the state’s 16 local government areas.
He recalled that a similar exercise was held in November 2024, during which fodder choppers and pasture seeds were distributed to livestock cooperative groups, noting that the current programme builds on those interventions.
He explained that the newly commissioned facilities were designed to address critical gaps in the livestock sector, including disease surveillance, vaccine storage, genetic improvement, dairy value chain development and extension service delivery.
The SPC added that the motorcycles would improve access to remote livestock communities, while the fodder choppers would enhance feed efficiency, especially during the dry season.
Albert further disclosed that L-PRES would soon enter into a Public-Private Partnership arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure effective management and long-term sustainability of the facilities located within the Veterinary Hospital premises.
He assured stakeholders that additional investments in infrastructure, capacity building, market systems and resilience-focused interventions are planned for the remaining years of the project.
Both speakers commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his leadership and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a resilient, competitive and inclusive livestock sector in Taraba State.
