Lawmakers Flay ‘Lip Service’ To Livestock Sector

The National Assembly yesterday expressed strong dissatisfaction with what it described as the federal government’s “lip service” approach to the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry, two years after the creation of a full-fledged ministry for the sector.

The position was made known during a budget defence session between the Joint Committee on Livestock Development and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, told lawmakers that despite Nigeria’s vast potential in livestock production, about 65 per cent of animals consumed annually in the country were imported.

He further disclosed that Nigeria has the potential to generate up to N3.2 billion in red meat export value, but inadequate funding had continued to hamper the sector’s growth.

According to the minister, out of the N70 billion approved as take-off fund for the ministry in 2024, only N20 billion has been released so far. He added that of the N10 billion appropriated as capital vote for the 2025 fiscal year, no fund had been disbursed.

The revelation angered members of the committee who described the situation as unacceptable and contrary to the federal government’s economic diversification agenda.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Shehu Buba, said the National Assembly would consider writing to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the funding crisis.

He noted that countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Belgium have successfully leveraged livestock development as a key economic driver, urging Nigeria to follow suit.

Also speaking, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, described the poor funding of the ministry as contradictory to the purpose for which it was established.

“The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the nation’s economy,” Monguno said, “It is therefore to my surprise and disgust that we are paying lip service to the livestock sector now. We need to drum it into the ears of the executive that it is inherently contradictory to create the ministry and woefully fail to fund it.”

Similarly, Senator Abdul Ningi alleged possible sabotage behind the zero capital allocation, suggesting that the situation might not reflect the president’s intention.

“This is a ministry that must be supported and well funded by the federal government,” Ningi said, “I am suspecting sabotage on the zero capital allocation because Mr President meant well for livestock development. The leadership of this committee should, as a matter of urgent national importance, write or meet Mr President for urgent intervention.”

In his closing remarks, Senator Buba stressed that a mono-sector economy does not benefit any nation, assuring that the committee would push for adequate funding of the ministry to place Nigeria firmly on the path of economic diversification through livestock development.