The Federal Government has launched the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NLGAS), focusing on modernising the sector through improved feed and fodder development, advanced genetics and breeding, disease control, and the transition of nomadic herders into structured grazing hubs.
A joint study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projected that global per capita consumption of animal-source foods will rise by six per cent by 2034, with lower middle-income countries expected to see a 24 per cent increase.
Analysts say the rising global demand for meat and dairy has created an opportunity for Nigeria to develop a multi-billion-naira export industry while strengthening domestic food security.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has revealed that more than 400 grazing reserves are scheduled for rehabilitation, incorporating renewable energy, schools, clinics, and veterinary services.
The government has also been digitising livestock routes nationwide to improve management and efficiency, ensuring herders and livestock producers are integrated into a modern system.
The strategy has attracted support from international organisations.
FAO’s representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, endorsed the government’s approach at a recent Abuja meeting, highlighting the “One Health” model, which links human, animal, and environmental health.
He also called for tighter controls on transboundary animal diseases and stronger quarantine measures to safeguard livestock quality.
Private sector cooperation is also being emphasised. Dr Roland Oroh, Managing Director of the Commodities Development Initiative (CDI), urged alignment with international standards, investment in abattoirs and meat processing facilities, and removing trade barriers.
He noted that Nigeria has significant potential to export red meat, live animals, fodder, and soya bean meal, especially to Middle Eastern markets, and that strengthening infrastructure is critical to fully leverage these opportunities.
Nigeria has already begun securing international market access. At the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced a $100 million offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank to supply livestock to the Middle East.
The agreement, starting with a $10 million initial allocation, positions Nigeria to tap into a $2.5 billion market for meat and by-products. Under the plan, Niger State will provide farmland for production.
At the same time, Lagos will handle logistics and processing using LNG-powered cold-chain trucks, ensuring high-quality, value-added exports rather than live animal shipments.
Lagos State, which consumes nearly two million cattle annually but produces less than one per cent of its needs, has invested in feedlots and integrated value chains to reduce reliance on imports.
A pilot project in Badagry is breeding 500 cows, while 750 hectares in Epe have been earmarked for large-scale red meat production in partnership with Brazilian experts, according to Ms Abisola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems.
Source: The Nation
Image Credit: aara.org
