Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering peace, economic growth, and sustainable livestock development in Benue State and across Nigeria.
Speaking at the 1st Benue State Livestock Development Summit held in Makurdi over the weekend, the Minister commended Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia for his foresight in establishing the Benue State Bureau for Livestock Development and appointing Dr. Aondoakaa Asambe as its Director-General.
Maiha stated that the creation of the Bureau aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which recognises the immense, yet largely untapped, economic potential in Nigeria’s livestock sector.
In a statement issued and signed by Ben Bem Goong, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry , stated that the Minister noted that the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is a strategic step toward wealth creation, job opportunities, and national economic transformation.
“The mandate of the Ministry is to modernize the sector and create economic opportunities in the production and marketing of all farmable animals ranging from the bee to cattle, camels, and donkeys,” he said.
Reiterating the importance of data-driven policies, the Minister explained that the livestock sector currently contributes 9 percent to the GDP, valued at $32 billion, and has the potential to grow to $74 billion by 2035 through targeted investments in breeding, animal health management, feed production, and market expansion.
“The Ministry has digitized the grazing routes and the 417 grazing reserves will be regrassed for pasture for settlement of pastoralists. The subnational governments have also been requested to allocate land for pasture production for fodder export whose current global market demand is about $2.09 billion.
“We are also working to create disease-free zones and disease-free compartments at Obudu Cattle Ranch and the Mambila plateau and other locations for the production of healthy animals for domestic and global meat markets,” Maiha added.
He stressed that structured livestock development is not only an economic imperative but also a peacebuilding strategy, as it will help mitigate long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders.
The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, in his remarks, welcomed the Honourable Minister and expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s support in repositioning Benue State as a leader in livestock production.
Alia noted that for decades, agriculture in Benue has been dominated by crop production, leaving livestock development largely neglected despite its potential to combat food insecurity, generate wealth, and boost the state’s GDP.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to changing this narrative by making livestock development a priority, as reflected in the establishment of the Bureau for Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Diseases Control.
“With 25,500 sq. km of arable land and immense livestock farming potential, Benue is ready to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and private sector investors.
In 2025, we are adopting “Pasture as a Fodder Crop”, a strategic move to cultivate improved pasture that can be baled and sold to less-endowed regions with high livestock populations, particularly cattle and other ruminants,” the governor stated.
Governor Alia further listed several state-owned livestock facilities that require rehabilitation and modernisation, including the Ikyôgen Cattle Ranch and Resort, the Livestock Investigation and Breeding Centre in Raav, and the Makurdi International Cattle Market, among others.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (as amended), calling on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to lead the way in national legislative reforms that will promote ranching as the standard practice for livestock management in Nigeria.
