The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the livestock sector and creating a sustainable framework for its development.
Speaking at the commencement of a three-day strategic consultation session with selected stakeholders in Abuja, the Minister outlined transformative plans aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the livestock value chain and ensuring the sector’s inclusivity and sustainability.
“For too long, we’ve had diagnostics, lamentations, and workshops. It is now time to move from talking to implementing. This session brings together academia, private sector stakeholders, and relevant MDAs to dissect previous reports and identify actionable steps, focusing on low-hanging fruits.
“We are opening up the Ministry by shifting from traditional methods to modern, innovative practices. Our goal is to unlock all the value chains in the livestock sector, enabling Nigerians to access economic and investment opportunities.
“This will involve leveraging print and broadcast media, creating engaging content, and utilising social media. Additionally, we will introduce creative campaigns, including dance dramas and guerrilla tactics, to ensure that every Nigerian, young and old, connects with the new vision of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development,” Maiha said.
The Minister stressed that the success of the initiative begins with winning the “battle of the heart and mind.” He also outlined the Ministry’s mission to modernise the livestock sector, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), encourage local investment, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty.
“The era of lamentation is over. The Ministry is ready to implement solutions and make tangible impacts visible to all Nigerians. We are in the process of setting up a state-of-the-art situation room. Leveraging technology, we will deploy drones in high-density areas and flashpoints to obtain real-time data,” Maiha added.
This, he explained, will enable timely communication with security agencies to mitigate flashpoints and prevent armed clashes.
The three-day consultation session is expected to generate actionable strategies to address longstanding challenges in the sector, with an emphasis on implementation and measurable outcomes.
Presentations at the session would address critical issues such as infrastructure for grazing reserves, cattle routes (both national and international), and the use of dams for pasture regrowth, cattle watering, and hydro-energy to support businesses in meat processing.
