The Minister of Livestock Development has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to climate-smart livestock production, placing improved feed and fodder systems at the centre of the national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise productivity.

The Minister announced on Monday, 19 January 2026, during a meeting with the ILRI–GATES Livestock Feed and Nutrition Project Team. 

Discussions focused on how ruminant feeding systems influence methane emissions and climate change, highlighting the urgent need for better nutrition practices.

The Minister stated that emissions from ruminants are mainly driven by fermentation processes linked to high-fibre feeds. He stressed the importance of shifting towards protein-rich, climate-resilient feed options.

“Feed and fodder is our number one priority,” he said. “If animals are fed properly and kept healthy, even our indigenous breeds can perform optimally. 

Nomadism today is not about culture; it is a survival mechanism driven by scarcity. If we provide abundance where people are, movement will reduce.”

He announced plans to establish large-scale fodder production across the country, using solar-powered irrigation, micro-earth dams, and basic amenities within designated grazing reserves. 

Six pilot states, Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, have been selected for the establishment of national communal ranches, with land allocation expected ahead of the next rainy season.

“This is no longer about theory. It is time for boots on the ground,” the Minister said, adding that Nigeria has the land, political will and partnerships needed to transform the livestock sector while addressing climate change, security challenges and disruptions in food systems.

Speaking on behalf of the ILRI–GATES project, Programme Leader Dr Anu Frank-Lawale praised the Minister’s vision and pledged full support. 

He outlined the project’s four key components, including the use of crop residues, fermented protein feeds, climate-resilient forages and mycotoxin assessment in animal feeds across Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia.

“Our goal is to increase milk production, create jobs, improve profitability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. 

“Ultimately, this will enhance food security, livelihoods and climate efficiency.”

ILRI Country Representative Dr Tunde Amole emphasised that the project prioritises proven solutions rather than theoretical research, with plans to introduce tested forage cultivars suited to the Sahel and scale them quickly once validated.

“Methane emissions are not simply an animal issue; they are a feed issue,” he said, stressing that the project will focus on practical measures such as climate-resilient forages, alternative protein sources, safe feeds and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: FMLD