Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has urged all stakeholders to prioritise the livestock value chain in both national and regional strategies in order to fully harness the sector’s potential.
Making the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing inception meeting of the newly inaugurated Agricultural Sector Working Group (ASWG), Maiha highlighted key areas requiring urgent attention, including disease surveillance, veterinary public health, pasture development, animal health services, genetic improvement, and peace building.
He identified these as current focal points of the ministry.
He stressed the importance of investing in innovative technologies, research and data systems, capacity building, gender-sensitive and youth-driven initiatives, and climate-smart, sustainable practices to unlock the sector’s full potential.
“There is no doubt that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing 25 per cent to our GDP. It is a vital source of livelihood for a large segment of our population, particularly in rural areas.
“The sector plays a pivotal role in ensuring food and nutrition security, generating employment, and stimulating inclusive economic growth.
“The livestock sector, in particular, holds immense potential. It contributes significantly to food systems, household incomes, and national development. However, it is beset by numerous challenges.
“These include climate change, disease and health management, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to technology, suboptimal breed performance, and insufficient data to support decision-making,” he said.
Maiha commended the formation of the ASWG, describing it as timely and strategic.
He noted that the group represents a crucial step towards fostering collective efforts to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
According to the minister, the establishment of the ASWG aligns with Nigeria’s national priorities and constitutional commitments to agri-food system transformation under the African Union Agenda and the 2025 Kampala Declaration.
He described the group as a multi-stakeholder platform designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, strengthen intersectoral collaboration, and align policies and strategies to enhance coordination and efficiency.
Maiha added that the group would also promote innovation, encourage the adoption of modern technologies, and guide sustainable and inclusive development across the crop, livestock, fisheries, and forestry value chains.
“It will further support Nigeria’s implementation of key African Union resolutions on agri-food transformation, with a strong focus on evidence-based policy, social inclusion, livelihood enhancement, and accountability.
“I urge all stakeholders, government agencies, development partners, the private sector, academia, and research institutions to engage actively with this platform, bringing commitment, openness, sincerity, and purpose to achieving the goals of the working group.
“Let us strengthen institutional frameworks to improve sector coordination; empower smallholder farmers with tools, training, and market access; foster private sector participation to drive innovation, scalability, and sustainability.
“Let us unlock funding opportunities for agricultural investment; and ensure that data informs our decisions, from planning through to impact monitoring,” he said.