•Initiative to foster peace, prosperity
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
In a move designed to foster peace, economic growth and sustainable economic development in Nigeria, the Benue State government and the federal government are partnering to revolutionise the livestock sector in the country.
Speaking at the inaugural Benue State Livestock Development Summit in Makurdi at the weekend, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his foresight in establishing the Benue State Bureau for Livestock Development and appointing Dr. Aondoakaa Asambe as its Director General.
Maiha emphasised that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s developmental blueprint, which seeks to unlock the vast, yet underutilised potential of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
He described the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a “strategic step toward wealth creation, job opportunities, and national economic transformation.”
“The mandate of the ministry is to modernize the sector and create economic opportunities in the production and marketing of all farmable animals, from bees to cattle, camels, and donkeys,” he said.
Highlighting the economic potential of livestock development, Maiha revealed that the sector currently contributes 9 percent to Nigeria’s GDP, valued at $32 billion, with projections to grow to $74 billion by 2035 through targeted investments in breeding, animal health management, feed production, and market expansion. “The ministry has digitized grazing routes, and the 417 grazing reserves will be regrassed to provide sustainable pasture for pastoralist settlements,” he noted.
He also disclosed plans for state governments to allocate land for pasture production, tapping into the $2.09 billion global fodder market. Furthermore, the government is working on creating “disease-free zones and compartments at Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Mambila Plateau, and other strategic locations to enhance the production of healthy animals for both domestic and international meat markets.”
Maiha underscored that a structured approach to livestock development is not only an economic imperative but also a peacebuilding strategy to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders.
In his remarks, Governor Alia welcomed the Federal Government’s support, stating that livestock development had been neglected for decades in Benue despite its potential to combat food insecurity and boost the state’s economy.
“With 25,500 sq. km of arable land and vast livestock farming potential, Benue is ready to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and private sector investors,” Alia said.
He further announced a 2025 policy shift towards “Pasture as a Fodder Crop,” a strategy to cultivate and bale improved pasture for sale to regions with high livestock populations.
Additionally, he outlined plans to rehabilitate key livestock facilities, including the Ikyôgen Cattle Ranch and Resort, the Livestock Investigation and Breeding Centre in Raav, and the Makurdi International Cattle Market.
Reaffirming his administration’s stance on regulated livestock management, Alia reiterated support for the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (as amended) and urged the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to spearhead national legislative reforms that will entrench ranching as the industry standard.