The Federal Government has launched a National Economic Council (NEC) Technical Sub-Committee on Livestock Development, chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, to create a practical roadmap for transforming the sector into a powerhouse for economic growth.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Monday, Bagudu stressed that the sub-committee would build on existing policies and reports, distilling them into an actionable plan for swift NEC adoption. 

This move underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment, highlighted by his personal chairmanship of the related Presidential Committee and the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development.

“Livestock is not marginal but central to agricultural productivity and inclusive growth,” Bagudu said.

The President’s vision aligns with Nigeria’s federal structure, where agriculture spans federal, state, and local responsibilities. 

He called for collaboration across government tiers to leverage initiatives like the World Bank-backed Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, NG-CARES, and the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Plan targeting 8,809 wards for sustainable livelihoods.

The minister urged state commissioners to champion the process, promising that NEC endorsement would unlock state resources, attract private investors, and reframe livestock from a conflict flashpoint to a prosperity engine vital for climate-resilient farming and job creation for Nigeria’s youth.

The hybrid meeting included key figures such as Dr Sampson Ebimaro (representing the Permanent Secretary), SSA to the President on Agribusiness Kingsley Uzoma, state commissioners from Cross River, Kebbi, and Niger, and experts from L-PRES and the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee.

Source: Champion News
Image Credit: NTA