The Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Ango Suleiman Abdulahi, has called on Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) within the FCT Administration to prioritize budgetary allocations toward the transformation of the livestock sector.
Abdulahi made the appeal during a meeting of the FCT Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Inter-Agency Technical Committee held in Abuja. He emphasized that livestock development remains a critical component of the SAPZ initiative and a vital driver of food security, job creation, and economic diversification in the territory.
According to him, the livestock value chain spanning production, processing, and marketing holds vast untapped potential capable of boosting internal revenue generation and reducing dependence on food imports. He therefore urged all SDAs to ensure that their forthcoming budget proposals reflect the financial commitments necessary to strengthen the sector.
“The SAPZ project has placed the FCT ahead of many states in the country, but to sustain this leadership, every participating agency must demonstrate commitment through adequate budgetary support,” Abdulahi stated.
The meeting, which reviewed the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) for the SAPZ project, also assessed ongoing achievements, challenges, and areas requiring stronger inter-agency collaboration. Participants reaffirmed their readiness to align their respective programs and funding priorities with the overarching goals of the SAPZ initiative.
The SAPZ program, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is designed to modernize agricultural production and processing across Nigeria. In the FCT, the initiative aims to accelerate rural development through the establishment of agro-industrial hubs, improved infrastructure, and sustainable value chain services.
Abdulahi reiterated that achieving the livestock transformation vision would depend largely on consistent funding, effective coordination, and the active participation of all relevant agencies.
“We must move beyond plans to action by ensuring that the livestock sector receives the resources it deserves. This is how we can secure food sufficiency, empower rural communities, and strengthen our economy,” he added.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from SDAs to integrate livestock transformation into their 2026 budget frameworks and to work collectively toward realizing the full potential of the SAPZ initiative in the FCT.
