FG, Private Sector Seal $50bn Livestock Plan

The federal government and the private sector have moved to accelerate investment in Nigeria’s livestock industry, aligning on a $50 billion initiative aimed at unlocking a projected $74 billion growth target for the sector.

This followed a stakeholders’ roundtable on livestock transformation held in Abuja on yesterday, where the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) agreed on a coordinated push to scale up productivity and attract large-scale private investment.

The minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the initiative aligns with the government’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), stressing that the sector’s transformation would depend largely on private sector leadership.

He warned that government alone cannot drive the expected growth, noting that sustained investment across the livestock value chain remains critical to achieving the $74 billion target.

Maiha said the sector currently contributes about $32 billion to the nation’s economy but has the capacity for significant expansion through improvements in feed development, pasture management, animal health systems and genetic enhancement.

He identified red meat, dairy and leather as priority areas for rapid growth, citing their potential to reduce imports, boost exports and generate employment.

The minister also assured investors of ongoing efforts to de-risk investments through regulatory reforms, improved data systems and policies aimed at creating a more enabling business environment.

President of NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim, said the $50 billion investment plan would be implemented over a 10-year period, focusing on modern ranching, infrastructure development and the deployment of digital technologies to improve efficiency in the sector.

He maintained that while government would provide the necessary policy support, the private sector must take the lead in driving growth and innovation.

Also speaking, president of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emeka Obegolu, described the engagement as a major step towards repositioning the livestock sector, noting that it marked the first private sector-led national dialogue dedicated to livestock development in the country.

Stakeholders at the meeting emphasised the need for sustained collaboration to address structural gaps and fully harness the economic potential of Nigeria’s livestock industry.