The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a modern, resilient, and globally competitive industry, stressing the importance of knowledge, innovation, and international collaboration.
Speaking at the National Livestock Transformation Dialogue and the official launch of the ABIS Livestock Academy in Abuja on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025, the Minister said the sector can no longer remain constrained by outdated practices and weak knowledge transfer. He explained that sustainable productivity requires a seamless connection between grazing reserves, abattoirs, markets, and consumers.
“The grazing reserve and the abattoir are two ends of the same vision,” the Minister declared. “At one end, we raise animals sustainably; at the other, we process them to world-class standards. Between these two lies a value chain that creates jobs, empowers youth and women, drives growth, and secures Nigeria’s place in the global livestock market.”
He commended ABIS for its investments in abattoir modernisation, cold storage facilities, and structured meat distribution, while unveiling the ABIS Livestock Academy, which will serve as a platform for technical training and capacity building across the livestock value chain.
The Chairman of ABIS, Emmanuel Nelson Usman, announced that the company’s expanding facilities will create over 36,000 jobs nationwide. He added that the initiative will boost food security, promote sustainability through biogas innovation, and enhance Nigeria’s export competitiveness in the global agricultural market.
Similarly, the Managing Director of NIRSAL, Sa’ad Hamidu, revealed that in 2025 alone, NIRSAL trained more than 490 livestock actors nationwide. He disclosed that the agency has also facilitated over N270 billion in loans and investments to stakeholders within the livestock value chain.
In a related development, the Minister received the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, on a courtesy visit. The Ambassador announced an upcoming Belgian trade mission to Nigeria in November, which will focus on agriculture, food systems, cold-chain management, and artificial intelligence solutions for livestock identification and traceability.
Responding, the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s vast livestock market, valued at over $33 trillion with more than 200 million ruminants. He outlined opportunities for collaboration in genetics, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, feed and fodder, and advanced technologies.
He expressed special interest in Belgian expertise, including the Belgian Blue cattle breed, vaccines, and AI-driven cattle tagging systems designed to improve productivity, collateralisation, and data-driven livestock management.