The federal government has said that Nigeria’s livestock sector has the potential to contribute more than $11 billion annually to the national economy when properly harnessed.
Minister of state for Agriculture and Food security, Sabi Abdullahi disclosed this in Abuja when he addressed West African stakeholders at the 3rd meeting of the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) global eradication programme regional roadmap and blueprint consultation.
The Abuja meeting serves as a crucial forum to enhance coordination among countries and to spearhead accelerated progress towards PPR eradication, which will bring significant socioeconomic benefits to West Africa.
With an estimated 60.3 million sheep and 108.8 million goats, Nigeria boasts the largest small ruminant population in Africa but the minister said that severe impact of PPR, commonly known as sheep and goat plague continues to constrain livestock productivity and market access in the region.
Addressing the hybrid conference, Abdullahi highlighted the critical role of livestock in Nigeria’s socio-economic development to include vital sources of income, food, and employment for over 65 per cent of the rural population and the overall agricultural GDP.
Despite progress, the minister acknowledged ongoing challenges, including funding gaps, logistical issues, and the need for continuous training of veterinary personnel. He called for strengthened regional and international partnerships and resource mobilisation to support eradication efforts.
He said that the Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, remains committed to eradicating PPR and other major Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs).
Abdullahi lauded the collaborative efforts with international partners like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which have been pivotal in advancing disease control measures.
He said, “The livestock sector is vital to the socio-economic development of our country, and it represents an important source of high-quality animal protein. If properly harnessed, the livestock sector has the potential to contribute more than $11 billion annually to the economy”
In his remarks, FAO representative ad-interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Koffy Dominique Kouacou highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships with regional organisations and economic communities to achieve the objectives of PPR eradication and to strengthen veterinary services.
Represented by the FAO country team leader for the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Dr Otto Vianney Muhinda, Kouacou stated that the eradication of PPR is seen as a gift to future generations in Africa with FAO, along with other partners working tirelessly to support activities towards disease freedom status and to promote regional harmonisation, political commitment and advocacy.
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