Mukhtar Launches National Livestock Investment Master Plan, Pledges 15-Year Roadmap for Prosperity

By Onwe Wisdom Pan Afric Reporters, NASS

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has unveiled a landmark investment roadmap aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s livestock sector as a driver of food security, rural prosperity, and national economic growth.

The National Livestock Master Plan (NLMP), developed in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),  according to a press release e-signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben. Bem Goong, was formally presented to the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, alongside the National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr. Sanusi Abubakar.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, Mukhtar described the NLMP as “not merely a document, but a blueprint for transformation.” He stressed that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s determination to make livestock a cornerstone of national development.

According to the Minister, “Nigeria’s livestock sector contributes about 17 percent of agricultural GDP and 5 percent of national GDP. It sustains millions of livelihoods and remains critical to food and nutrition security. Yet, for decades, challenges such as low productivity, recurring disease outbreaks, poor infrastructure, and limited market access have undermined its potential.”

He further explained that the 15-year master plan is designed as “a strategic pathway for sustainable growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive prosperity.”

The Minister cited Tanzania’s 2018 Livestock Master Plan, developed with ILRI’s support as a model, noting that it mobilised over $624 million in research and catalysed private sector participation. “With this NLMP, Nigeria now has a tested roadmap to mobilise investments, attract partnerships, and implement evidence-based interventions across priority value chains,” Mukhtar added.

Presenting the technical details, Dr. Sirak Bahta of ILRI revealed that the NLMP was the product of 24 months of rigorous research, policy analysis, and stakeholder consultations. He explained that the plan identifies cattle, poultry, small ruminants, pigs, and feed systems as priority value chains while providing strategies for animal health, breeding, pasture development, and market access.

Dr. Bahta warned that without intervention, Nigeria’s rising demand for meat, milk, and eggs will soon outstrip domestic supply, worsening import dependence. However, with targeted investments, the country could reduce imports and emerge as a “regional livestock hub.”

He stressed that the NLMP is “not just about technical inputs, but about creating an enabling environment where policies, investments, and innovations converge to drive sustainable change.”

Key highlights of the plan include:

• Raising vaccination coverage to 75% and training community animal health workers to cut mortality rates by 65%.
• Expanding pasture cultivation, modernising feedlots, and developing floodplain grazing systems to boost productivity by 40%.
• Launching community breeding programmes while preserving indigenous livestock species.
• Ensuring gender inclusion by expanding financing and technology access for women in dairy, poultry, and small ruminant value chains.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, directors of the ministry, senior officials, and ILRI representatives led by Senior Agricultural Economist Dr. Dolapo Enahoro, were also present at the unveiling.

Ben. Bem Goong, Director of Press and Public Relations, described the initiative as a turning point in Nigeria’s livestock policy landscape.