Nigeria’s livestock sector is proving to be a key driver of the country’s economy, currently contributing over $32 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Federal Government has announced.
The Ministry of Livestock Development unveiled the National Livestock Growth and Sustainability Plan (NL-GAS 2025–2035), which aims to expand the sector’s contribution to GDP to between $74 billion and $94 billion within the next decade.
Peter Alike, Technical Officer at the Ministry, emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving these ambitious targets. He highlighted that Nigeria is home to over 50 million cattle, mostly managed by rural herders, and stressed that ensuring sufficient animal feed is a national priority to safeguard both food security and sustainable growth.
The Ministry is also working closely with regional and international partners, including ECOWAS, the European Union, and Spanish cooperation programs, to enhance livestock production through innovation, disease control, and research. Initiatives such as the PRISMA Project focus on improving agro-pastoral systems and tackling aflatoxin contamination in livestock feed.
The Federal Government sees the development of the livestock sector as a national imperative, promising economic diversification, rural employment opportunities, and an increase in domestic food supply. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
