ABUJA — The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, announced on Tuesday that Nigeria is entering a transformative phase in its livestock sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasized that fresh commitments and strategic collaboration with Brazil are set to unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
Speaking at the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in Abuja, Maiha highlighted how the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development stands uniquely positioned to seize the opportunities emerging from this bilateral partnership.
“No ministry in Nigeria today better embodies the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda than ours,” Maiha said.
He laid out a bold vision for revitalizing Nigeria’s livestock industry, aiming to secure the future of more than 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep, 9.3 million pigs, and over 2 billion poultry birds. According to him, these animals are not just food sources—they also support livelihoods and create employment for millions of Nigerians.
Maiha identified two key areas in Nigeria’s partnership with Brazil: enhancing livestock genetics by using Brazilian expertise to boost productivity, and strengthening animal health and disease control. With Nigeria now officially free from Foot and Mouth Disease, Maiha stated that the country will adopt Brazil’s proven models to manage and eradicate livestock diseases.
After attending the Brazil-Africa Dialogue in Brasília, the Minister stressed the importance of collaborating with Brazilian firms such as Rampa and other private-sector partners to replicate Brazil’s livestock development model in Nigeria.
He further announced that the National Economic Council has approved a National Livestock Growth Strategy, aiming to increase the sector’s value from $32 billion to $74 billion within five years. He said this ambitious growth plan will be driven by the private sector, following Brazil’s example.
“We are determined to modernize our livestock systems and build a globally competitive and resilient industry,” Maiha stated.
He revealed that the government has defined 10 strategic pillars to guide the sector’s transformation and ensure broad economic and social benefits throughout the value chain.
“We stand fully prepared to engage in this Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between Nigeria and Brazil,” he declared. “Our livestock sector is now ready to deliver on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
