‎FG Builds 21 Veterinary Hospitals To Boost Livestock Production, Food Security ‎

‎The federal government has built 21 model veterinary hospitals across 21 states to improve animal health, strengthen food security and boost livestock production in the country.

‎The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Friday during the inauguration of one of the facilities in Ondo Town, Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

‎Maiha said the hospitals were established to reposition the livestock sector as a major contributor to national economic growth, employment generation, food security and sustainable livelihoods.

‎He explained that the facilities were constructed and equipped under the World Bank-supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

‎According to the minister, the federal government plans to extend the intervention to the remaining 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

‎He said, “These hospitals are dear to President Tinubu, with plans to extend similar interventions to the remaining 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

‎“Very soon, every local government will have one fully functional veterinary clinic. We are conscious of this, and we are bringing these facilities to the last miles.

‎“Our vision is to ensure that veterinary services are not confined to government facilities, but are accessible to farmers wherever production and commercial activities take place,” Maiha said.

‎He, however, expressed concern over the shortage of veterinary doctors in the country, noting that the current ratio of one veterinarian to 10,000 animals was unacceptable.

‎The minister urged state governments to recruit more veterinarians and other animal health professionals to strengthen veterinary services and tackle animal diseases.

‎He said improving animal health was critical to producing safe meat, reducing the spread of zoonotic diseases and positioning Nigeria to access the international red meat market.

‎Earlier, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Samuel Abubakar, said the facilities were designed to expand access to quality veterinary services and bring professional animal healthcare closer to livestock farmers.

‎Abubakar said the project was being implemented through national and state coordination offices to improve livestock production, healthcare and marketing.

‎He described the modern livestock market inaugurated alongside the hospital as a strategic investment in the livestock value chain, adding that it would create economic opportunities for farmers, transporters and processors.

‎Also speaking, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as evidence of effective collaboration between the federal and state governments.

‎The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Leye Akinola, urged farmers, traders and other stakeholders to maximise the opportunities provided by the veterinary hospital and modern livestock market.

‎He said the facilities would stimulate commercial activities, improve market access and increase economic opportunities for livestock farmers and residents of the host community.

‎Similarly, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, commended the Federal Government for siting the facility in the town.

‎The traditional ruler assured that measures would be put in place to ensure proper maintenance of the hospital and sustain its operations.

‎The minister also inaugurated other L-PRES projects in the state, including an Artificial Insemination Centre in Akure. Other projects included a 50,000-litre solar-powered borehole with water trough at Asejere Farm Settlement in Ile-Oluji Local Government Area.

‎The Phase One and Two 50,000-litre solar-powered borehole projects with water troughs at Adofure Pig Cluster in Akure were my also inaugurated.