The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commissioned new upgraded facilities at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, Kaduna State.
The commissioned infrastructure includes a 500-tonne-per-year hay barn, a single-line pasture seed processing unit with a capacity of 10 tonnes per hour, a 20-tonne-per-year pasture seed drying shade, and four solar-powered boreholes fitted with drinking troughs within NAPRI.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commissioned the facilities on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to upgrade livestock sector infrastructure across the country.
Speaking at the event, the minister said the interventions were made possible through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
According to the ministry, the facilities are strategic investments aimed at addressing persistent challenges in pasture development, feed availability and water access for animal production and research.
“Feed and pasture development remain critical to improving livestock productivity in Nigeria. These facilities are designed to support NAPRI in delivering practical, demand-driven solutions that will strengthen animal production systems and enhance food security,” Maiha said.
He urged the institute to strengthen its role as a centre of excellence for livestock research, innovation and technology transfer, and tasked NAPRI with maximising the opportunities provided by the new infrastructure.
“NAPRI must continue to lead in developing and disseminating innovations that support commercial, competitive and environmentally friendly animal production systems. Our focus is to ensure that research outcomes translate into real value for farmers, jobs for our youth and improved livelihoods for Nigerians,” he added.
Earlier, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, explained that the interventions fall under Component One of the project, which focuses on institutional and innovation system strengthening.
“These facilities demonstrate our commitment to building the capacity of key institutions like NAPRI to support research, policy formulation and practical solutions for livestock development,” he said.
Dr Abubakar disclosed that further upgrades are underway at NAPRI, including improvements to artificial insemination and embryo transfer facilities, dairy and poultry units, as well as indigenous sheep and goat projects. He added that the World Bank has rated the project satisfactory, with prospects for additional financing and expanded interventions.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, pledged the university’s support for the minister’s vision, noting that NAPRI remains central to national efforts to modernise livestock production, address climate challenges and strengthen food systems.
Similarly, the Acting Director of NAPRI, Prof Mohammed Rabiu Hassan, assured that the institute would ensure optimal utilisation of the facilities for research, innovation and the dissemination of practical solutions to enhance livestock productivity and national food security.
The minister, who also toured the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), emphasised the need for market-driven research, stronger partnerships and innovative commercialisation to unlock the full potential of the livestock value chain.
The Director-General, Dr Auwal Mustapha Imam,NILEST, said plans are underway to scale up leather production, citing the improved variety and quality of leather expected from better livestock breeds. He added that the institute is also working to patent innovations and promote commercialisation through strategic private-sector partnerships.
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