The Federal Government is exploring the potential in the livestock sector to enhance Nigeria’s economic growth, the Minister for Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has said.
The minister said this while inspecting livestock projects at the Modibbo Adama University in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
He said the Federal Government was committed to the development of the numerous opportunities that abound in the livestock sector to enhance national economic development.
Maiha said the pioneering efforts of his ministry were targeted at laying a strong foundation to build solid structures in the livestock sector to contribute to national development in various forms.
The Nation reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 to reform Nigeria’s livestock industry and create a safe environment for all stakeholders, encourage local and foreign investment, as well as enhance food security.
While he was the Modibbo Adama University in continuation of his working visit to Adamawa State, Maiha hailed the university for designing various initiatives to scale up livestock production.
The minister spoke after touring the university’s veterinary clinic, artificial insemination lab site, pasture development land, among others.
He acknowledged that the university had shown through its projects a rare determination for exploits in livestock development.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Umar, noted that the minister’s vast experience in the livestock sector beamed a ray of hope that the country’s livestock economy was set for rapid growth.
Umar told the minister that the university had over 4,000 hectares of land that could easily be used for agricultural purposes.
He said the university had also established a directorate for commercial farming.
