By Agrobroadcast Team
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its resolve to revitalise Nigeria’s livestock industry, commending the UK-funded Propcom+ programme for interventions considered critical to improving productivity, animal health, and private sector participation in the value chain.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, praised the programme’s impact and alignment with national priorities, stressing that strategic partnerships, sound policy reforms, and sustained private investment remain central to repositioning the sector.
Maiha made the remarks during a weekend breakfast meeting in Abuja, where Propcom+ formally briefed the management of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development on its ongoing initiatives. Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Stephen Ohaeri, the Minister described the programme as transparent and results-oriented, noting that the engagement demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to collaborating with development partners to tackle persistent challenges in animal health, feed production, vaccine supply, and institutional capacity.
He assured the organisation of the Ministry’s readiness to provide policy backing and coordination to expand successful pilot projects, simplify regulatory processes, and stimulate greater private sector investment particularly in vaccine manufacturing, feed production, and animal health services.
Maiha also emphasised the importance of inclusive growth, highlighting interventions that empower women and strengthen last-mile service delivery as vital to unlocking the full potential of the livestock sector.
Earlier, the Country Representative and Political Director of Propcom+ in Nigeria, Dr. Adiya Ode, said the meeting was convened to update the Ministry on the programme’s livestock portfolio, align future activities with government priorities as it enters its fourth year, and seek high-level support to address identified constraints.
She explained that Propcom+ is an eight-year programme funded by the UK Government, which commenced in 2022, with Palladium assuming implementation in 2023.
The initiative adopts a market-driven approach to rural economic transformation, targeting climate, conflict, and productivity challenges.
On livestock-specific interventions, Dr. Ode disclosed that the programme is piloting solar-powered cold chain systems to improve vaccine storage and distribution, particularly in underserved communities.
Through partnerships with private agro-veterinary dealers, 58 agro-vets in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and Adamawa States have been equipped with solar refrigerators under a commercially sustainable model.
In addition, 525 community animal health workers and veterinary para-professionals are currently providing paid vaccination and advisory services in rural areas, benefitting more than 456,000 livestock farmers.
The programme has also supported eight veterinary pharmaceutical distributors to expand service delivery models across several states.
Addressing feed and nutrition, she highlighted the successful pilot of commercial alfalfa production in Jigawa State in partnership with Matura Agro.
The initiative has yielded over 200 tonnes of alfalfa and attracted more than £924,000 in private investment, demonstrating Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a regional hub for high-protein livestock feed, with implications for export growth and improved dairy productivity.
In vaccine production, Propcom+ has provided a grant exceeding £1 million to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to upgrade equipment and energy infrastructure.
The intervention aims to scale up production of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Newcastle disease vaccines from 15 million to 110 million doses by 2028.
Dr. Ode further noted that the programme has undertaken market, policy, and energy diagnostics to address supply chain gaps, regulatory barriers, and high production costs within the sector.
She urged the Ministry to maintain strong policy engagement to facilitate regulatory reforms, including the amendment of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, enhance coordination with state governments and relevant agencies, and institutionalise donor collaboration through a livestock working group to prevent duplication and optimise development outcomes.
According to her, Propcom+ aims by 2030 to support 4.1 million smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs, build resilience among 3.79 million beneficiaries, and significantly increase incomes, while leveraging £204 million in private investment from an initial £95 million UK Government commitment.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Mr. Idris Ajimobi, commended Propcom+ for its sustained engagement and encouraged the expansion of its interventions.
He noted that the livestock sector has gained renewed strategic focus under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and is being positioned as a key driver of food security, employment generation, and economic growth.
The statement was issued by Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
The meeting was attended by directors of the Ministry, special advisers to the Minister, the Kwara State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas Adebayo, representatives of the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), and officials of Propcom+, reflecting the multi-stakeholder collaboration required to sustainably transform Nigeria’s livestock industry.