Nigeria’s agricultural leaders have stated that the newly created Livestock Ministry has offered the country a rare chance to turn long-running herder–farmer conflicts into engines of rural prosperity, but only if the government supports the ministry with strong coordination, sustainable funding and real engagement with communities.
Experts who spoke believe the ministry has signalled a crucial shift in national thinking: treating livestock as an economic powerhouse rather than a security burden.
They argue that the right reforms could open new pathways for youth employment, climate-smart farming and export-ready value chains.
Anibe Achimugu, President of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), said the ministry has represented “a decisive step” towards recognising animal production as a whole economic sector.
He explained that a well-equipped ministry could drive a coordinated national approach to ranching, breeding, animal health and livestock marketing, transforming conflict-prone hotspots into growth corridors and restoring hope to smallholder families affected by years of insecurity.
Achimugu added that more organised livestock systems would expand protein access and unlock mixed crop–livestock opportunities that help farmers diversify income.
Cotton and food crop farmers, he said, could benefit from increased demand for fodder, crop residues and by-products such as cottonseed cake used in feed production.
But he warned that success will depend on seamless collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources and Industry, and on ensuring that programmes reach ordinary pastoral households, not just large operators.
Adebowale Onafowora, Managing Director of BIC Farms Concept, described the ministry as the long-awaited structure needed to modernise ranching and create clear land-use plans.
He highlighted significant opportunities across dairy, beef and leather value chains, stated that the ministry has the potential to boost economic diversification and reduce violent clashes.
However, he cautioned that the transition requires major capital investment, reduced bureaucratic overlap with the Ministry of Agriculture, and sensitive handling of land acquisition issues.
He recommended guaranteed off-take agreements, low-interest credit for livestock entrepreneurs and public-private partnerships in genetics, feed production and ranch management, calling these “non-negotiable foundations” for a modern livestock economy.
Oyewole Okewole, Senior Associate Consultant at FutuX Agri-consult Limited, said the ministry’s value extends beyond conflict resolution to full value-chain integration, from research and “living labs” to processing, distribution and export.
He called for a national multi-stakeholder forum involving researchers, development partners, processors, scientists and livestock farmers.
Such collaboration, he said, would strengthen market access, especially through continental free trade channels.
Agribusiness Strategist Chi Tola Roberts agreed that the ministry could expand meat and dairy production, modernise ranching, improve veterinary infrastructure and attract investment.
However, she warned that chronic funding shortages, land conflicts, cultural resistance and ongoing insecurity could derail progress unless implementation is transparent and built on strong cooperation with states, farmers and herders.
For Sunday Ezeobiora, National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), the new ministry has given the livestock sector “a focused voice and a dedicated budget for the first time”.
He stated that policy fragmentation remains the biggest threat and urged complete alignment between the Livestock Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, particularly in terms of feed grain policy and land-use systems.
Ezeobiora emphasised that the ministry must look beyond conflict resolution and prioritise rapid modernisation across genetics, breeding, processing and cold-chain logistics.
He also called for experienced industry professionals to staff the ministry and for a quarterly consultation forum with PAN and other livestock associations.
Source: Independent News
Image Credit: Daily News
