The Federal Government has announced a large-scale project to turn the Wudil Livestock Market in Kano State into a modern, international-standard livestock hub. 

Following a detailed tour of the state’s agricultural infrastructure on Friday, 3 July 2026, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, revealed that the facility will be completely redesigned to serve as the primary reference point for modern livestock commerce across West Africa.

The Wudil Livestock Market stands as one of the most active trading centres in Northern Nigeria, handling an estimated weekly volume of 130 trucks, with each vehicle transporting at least 35 cattle. 

The Minister noted that the facility is currently held back by serious environmental and operational bottlenecks. 

The upcoming federal intervention will directly address these issues by replacing the current setup with structured animal pens, dedicated species holding zones, proper loading bays, and modern sanitation systems.

A central goal of the reform is to shift the local market away from a heavy reliance on moving live animals over long distances, moving instead toward a value-added system supported by local feedlots and processing abattoirs. 

Minister Mukhtar pointed out that livestock lose an average of 25 kilograms of weight during long-distance transit, which represents a severe and avoidable loss of economic value for herders. 

To protect animal health and boost market transparency, the upgraded facility will feature a fully fenced perimeter run under a strict registration system where livestock are officially weighed, logged, and tracked.

The multi-layered upgrade will also integrate vital economic and regulatory services, including on-site banking facilities, veterinary quarantine inspection units, administrative offices, and secure hospitality zones. 

Welcoming the joint initiative, the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Aliyu Isa Aliyu, confirmed that the state government has fully embraced the proposal to set a new benchmark for the subregion. 

The Minister concluded his tour by reviewing operations at the Wudil Milk Collection Centre and holding growth talks with the management of the Samal Integrated Farm.

Source: Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation