Kwara Moves To Tap Into $70bn Emerging Livestock Market

The Kwara State Government has unveiled plans to position the state as a major player in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding livestock economy, projected to grow from an estimated $32 billion to over $70 billion in the coming years.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.

Speaking on the theme: “Livestock Development in a Changing Economy: Innovation, Opportunities and the Role of Strategic Communication in National Growth,” Thomas described livestock as one of the most promising sectors capable of driving economic transformation, industrialisation, and job creation in Nigeria.

She said the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is deliberately moving beyond subsistence animal production into a fully commercialised and industrialised livestock economy through strategic investments and policy interventions.

According to her, the government’s objectives include improving productivity, strengthening livestock value chains, attracting private investment, reducing imports, and positioning Nigeria competitively in the global livestock market.

Thomas explained that the state is leveraging projects such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) to drive commercialisation.

She added that the SAPZ initiative would provide critical infrastructure, including roads, power, cold storage facilities, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, artificial insemination centres, cargo facilities, and residential accommodation for investors and processors.

“This is not accidental. It reflects leadership, foresight and a clear understanding that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in productive sectors capable of generating sustainable wealth and employment,” she said.

Earlier, the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Biola Azeez, noted that members of the chapel cut across national and international media organisations, playing critical roles in shaping public discourse and development reporting.