By Onwe Wisdom| Pan Afric Reporters
The Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock Development, Hon. Tasir Olawale Raji, has warned that Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported livestock products is unsustainable, calling for urgent reforms to drive local production and reposition the sector as a major contributor to national growth.
Delivering his goodwill message at the maiden meeting of the National Council on Livestock Development (NCLD) in Yola, Raji described the gathering as “a historic maiden meeting… and a bold step towards building a sustainable and competitive livestock economy.”
Speaking on the theme “Livestock Sector Rebirth: Accelerating Renewed Hope,” he said the topic was timely and reflects the urgent need to transform the industry into a driver of food security and economic diversification. “Today’s gathering is not only a demonstration of our collective resolve to transform the sector, but also a bold step towards building a sustainable and competitive livestock economy that meets the needs of our growing population,” he stated.
Raji highlighted Nigeria’s impressive livestock numbers — including 563 million chickens, 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep, and 16 million pigs, noting that these figures position the country as West Africa’s leading livestock producer. However, he lamented that “our national production still falls significantly short of meeting domestic consumption needs,” forcing the nation to spend billions importing products it should be producing locally.
He pointed specifically to Nigeria’s heavy milk import burden. “Nigeria currently imports about 65% of the milk consumed in the country… to meet an annual demand of approximately 1.7 million metric tonnes,” he said, stressing that this level of dependence “underscores the urgent need to strengthen local production systems and modernize the livestock value chain.”
Raji also described Nigeria’s per capita consumption of animal-source foods as “alarmingly low,” noting that the country records 8.7 litres of milk, 9kg of meat, and 3.5kg (45 eggs) per person annually, compared to global averages of 44 litres of milk, 19kg of meat, and 160–180 eggs per person. He said this deficit reflects the urgent need to expand production capacity and improve nutritional access.
Calling for collective action, he said the meeting must answer a critical question: “How do we turn things around?” According to him, the Council provides the ideal platform for stakeholders to develop “actionable strategies and commit to the reforms necessary to transform the livestock sector into a productive, competitive, and resilient engine of national growth.”
The lawmaker reaffirmed the National Assembly’s readiness to back transformative reforms. “As Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock Development, I wish to reaffirm the commitment of the National Assembly to supporting far-reaching reforms that will unlock the full potential of the livestock value chain,” he assured.
He added that the Legislature is already working on several bills aimed at addressing sectoral challenges, strengthening institutions, and encouraging private-sector investment. “We are laying the foundation for a robust livestock economy,” he said.
Raji further pledged deeper collaboration with the Executive, development partners, researchers, and industry players to modernize production systems, enhance animal health, promote value addition, and improve market access for farmers nationwide.
Expressing confidence in the outcomes of the meeting, he said: “Together, we can reposition livestock production from a subsistence activity to a thriving commercial enterprise capable of creating jobs, reducing conflict, boosting food security, and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.”
He concluded by wishing participants fruitful deliberations, stating: “May this maiden meeting mark the beginning of a new era of growth, harmony, and innovation in Nigeria’s livestock sector.”
