Beyond Oil: FG Unveils 10-Year Plan to Hit $74bn Livestock GDP Target

ILORIN — The Federal Government has set an ambitious target to more than double the livestock sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), eyeing a leap from the current $32 billion to $74 billion over the next decade.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed the strategic roadmap on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement. He declared that the administration is aggressively pivoting towards ranching to unlock the sector’s “goldmine” potential.

Represented by his Special Adviser, Mark Mbaram, the Minister revealed that the new National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy has already received the green light from the National Economic Council (NEC).

End of Nomadism

Maiha did not mince words regarding the traditional methods of animal husbandry. He stated that the era of open grazing and itinerant herding is fading fast, as it no longer offers economic value or security.

“The era of nomadism is gradually fading because it is no longer productive or profitable,” the Minister asserted. “Even as a Fulani man, I have consistently emphasized that ranching is the way forward. It allows for better animal management, higher productivity, and increased returns on investment.”

He explained that the government’s new strategy prioritizes:

• Ranching: Establishing sustainable models to replace open grazing.
• Value Chain Expansion: heavily investing in beef production, dairy farming, poultry, and micro-ruminants.
• Conflict Resolution: mitigating the age-old farmer-herder clashes through modern agricultural practices.

A “Front Burner” Issue

The Minister emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed livestock development on the “front burner” of national security.

“Food security remains a critical component of national security,” Maiha noted. “We are committed to repositioning this sector not just for food, but as a major driver of job creation and economic growth. We previously saw it as a challenge; now we see it as a major economic asset.”

Kwara as a Pilot

The engagement brought together over 250 players from across the value chain, including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, poultry farmers, and feed millers.

Kwara State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, affirmed the state’s readiness to lead the charge. She pledged that the state government would partner with the private sector to provide market access and financial support for farmers willing to modernize.

“We are creating opportunities for off-taker arrangements so that our farmers know exactly where their produce is going,” she added.