President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration would not repeat the mistakes of previous governments regarding livestock farming, emphasising the need for self-sufficiency in dairy production.
His commitment came during the opening of a two-day Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms on Thursday in Abuja.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu called the past neglect of livestock farming a “mistake” that must be rectified. “The livestock sector is critical, and we will provide everything it needs to thrive,” he asserted, adding that his government aims to create jobs and attract foreign investment.
Highlighting Nigeria’s potential, Tinubu stated, “With 563 million chickens and 58 million cattle, we are West Africa’s leading livestock producer. Yet, our production of animal-source foods remains alarmingly low.”
He noted that the country’s average milk yield per cow is just 0.5 to 1.5 liters per day, far below the global average of 6.6 liters.
Tinubu also lamented the economic impact of livestock import bills, which he estimated at $1.2-1.5 billion for dairy products alone. “Yes, we can bring prosperity to our people,” he said, urging collaboration among stakeholders.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdurrahman Abdulrazaq, stressed that “this is not just about food security but national security,” assuring full support for the reforms.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Sen. Abubakar Kyari praised Tinubu’s leadership, vowing to work towards diversifying the economy through livestock development.
