The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has revealed that the Federal Government’s strategy to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector will centre on genetic improvement and a transition from the traditional open grazing system.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Maiha described the existing model of animal husbandry as unsustainable, citing frequent farmer-herder conflicts and shrinking land resources.
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“We are holding conversations with key stakeholders, and they are agreeable to the plan,” the minister said. “If you are looking for 100 litres of milk from Nigerian cows today, you need to milk 100 cows. But with improved genetics, you can get the same quantity from 30 cows.”
He explained that with continuous genetic advancement, productivity could rise dramatically.
“At the second generation [F2], three cows can give you 100 litres of milk. In Brazil, I saw a cow that produces 120 litres in a single milking. So, higher productivity with fewer animals reduces environmental pressure and conflict over land,” he added.
Maiha disclosed that Nigeria currently has 417 grazing reserves covering about five million hectares, which the government intends to upgrade with modern infrastructure to accommodate pastoralists.
“We have communicated our plans to pastoralists and state governors. Each grazing reserve will be rehabilitated to become a livestock village, complete with veterinary and primary health care clinics, earth dams for irrigation, solar power, and processing facilities for meat and milk,” he said.
The minister noted that these livestock villages would serve as both economic and communal hubs, ensuring sustainable production and improved livelihoods for herders.
He concluded with a strong message against continued nomadic practices:
“We cannot keep having animals move from Sokoto to Calabar in search of fodder. The crisis is along that path, and it has to stop. This is the only way to go.”
