FG Earmarks 30,000 Hectares Of Wase Reserve For Military Livestock Project

The federal government has earmarked about 30,000 hectares of land within the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State for a livestock development project involving Defence Headquarters Holdings.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection visit to the reserve alongside representatives of Defence Headquarters Holdings, who have expressed interest in investing in modern livestock production.

Maiha said the allocation forms part of the government’s plan to fully utilise the more than 100,000 hectares of arable land available within the reserve to support the growth of Nigeria’s livestock sector.

“The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development plans to allocate approximately 30,000 hectares of land within the reserve to the Defence Headquarters, comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy, to establish large-scale grazing and livestock production facilities,” the minister said.

He explained that the project would focus on modern cow-calf production through the use of artificial insemination technology to improve livestock genetics and productivity, while selected bulls would be raised in feedlots before processing in modern abattoirs.

The minister noted that the initiative had received support from stakeholders in Wase Local Government Area, including traditional rulers, community leaders and political office holders.

According to him, the project is expected to stimulate economic activities and serve as a model for livestock development in neighbouring states.

“A single livestock enterprise of this scale has the potential to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs,” Maiha said.

He described the livestock sector as one of the fastest-growing segments of Nigeria’s economy.

He added that the ministry was working with the Plateau State Government, private investors and development partners to advance livestock development and expand opportunities in both the beef and dairy value chains.

As part of the visit, the minister commissioned a Digital Weather Station funded by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and managed by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, said the Wase Grazing Reserve is one of five pilot grazing reserves selected for remodelling and revitalisation under the programme.

He said the weather station would support climate-smart livestock production by providing data on rainfall patterns, wind speed, soil temperature and other climatic conditions critical to pasture and livestock management.

The federal government said the broader livestock development initiative is aimed at boosting productivity, creating jobs, improving food security and promoting sustainable livestock production across the country