Nigeria's livestock sector is set for a major transformation following new strategic cooperation with Brazil, as announced by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, described as Nigeria's youngest ministry, is positioned to immediately capitalize on opportunities presented by this bilateral partnership to unlock the economic potential of the country's livestock industry.
"No ministry today in Nigeria is better placed to express the full meaning of Renewed Hope than the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development," Maiha stated during the dialogue.
Ambitious Growth Plans for Nigeria's Livestock
The Minister outlined that the Renewed Hope Agenda aims to revitalize and secure the future for over 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep, 9.3 million pigs, and more than 2 billion poultry birds across the country.
"These animals represent not just food sources but livelihoods and employment for millions of Nigerians across the country," he emphasized.
According to Maiha, the National Economic Council has approved a National Livestock Growth Strategy with an ambitious target to increase the sector's value from $32 billion to $74 billion within the next five years. This growth plan will be primarily driven by the private sector, following Brazil's successful model.
Key Focus Areas of the Partnership
Two major areas have been identified for Nigeria's engagement with Brazil:
Genetic Improvement: Leveraging Brazilian expertise to enhance livestock breeds for higher productivity.
Animal Health and Disease Control: Adapting Brazil's proven models to manage and eliminate livestock diseases nationwide, building on Nigeria's recent declaration as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free.
The Minister, who participated in the Brazil-Africa Dialogue in Brasília, emphasized the importance of collaborating with Brazilian firms like Rampa and other private sector actors to replicate Brazil's livestock development success in Nigeria.
"We believe that through this roadmap, we can modernize our livestock systems and build a globally competitive, resilient industry," Maiha stated.
The government has identified 10 strategic pillars to guide the sector's transformation, with a clear mandate to ensure both economic and social impact across the value chain.
"The livestock sector is now poised to deliver on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda," the Minister declared, affirming Nigeria's commitment to the Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between Brazil and Nigeria.
This partnership represents a significant step toward modernizing Nigeria's agricultural sector and boosting economic growth through livestock development.
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