The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians against consuming hides and skin, warning that it deprives the country of valuable jobs and economic benefits. Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, stated that hides and skin have an estimated market value of ₦23 billion and could generate 700,000 jobs if properly harnessed for industrial use.
Maiha also raised health concerns, noting that traditional processing methods used in Nigeria could make animal skin consumption cancerous. The government aims to expand the livestock sector’s GDP contribution from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035, positioning Nigeria as a major player in both domestic and international markets for animal protein.
To achieve this, the ministry has outlined seven strategic pillars to drive modernization and growth in the livestock sector. The first pillar is Livestock Value Chain Development, which involves strengthening every stage of the livestock value chain – from breeding to market access – by promoting natural births, purchasing live animals, and introducing advanced reproduction techniques.Animal Health & Zoonotic Disease Control is another critical pillar, emphasizing disease surveillance, vaccination programs, and biosecurity measures to curb zoonotic disease outbreaks and ensure a healthier national herd.
Feed and Fodder Expansion, Water Resources Management, and other pillars are also key to the government’s strategy to transform the livestock sector and unlock its economic potential.
Finance and Insurance for Livestock Farmers; The livestock ministry is working on credit access, insurance policies, and investment-friendly regulations to protect farmers from market volatility, climate risks, and disease outbreaks, ensuring financial stability in the sector.
Infrastructure Development & Waste Management; The government intends to upgrade slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, and cold-chain logistics to improve hygiene and efficiency. Additionally, it will introduce waste-to-energy solutions to ensure environmental sustainability.
Peace-building, Security & Social Cohesion; To address the long-standing farmer-herder conflicts, the strategy includes conflict resolution mechanisms, the development of grazing reserves, and resettlement programs to promote peaceful co-existence.
Building a Globally Recognized ‘Bred in Nigeria’ Brand; Maiha emphasized that the strategic plan, currently in its final stages, will serve as a blueprint for policy implementation, investment attraction, and efficient sectoral coordination.The government’s competitive edge, he stated, will be built on quality assurance – anchored on healthier herds, improved management practices, better processing techniques, and premium packaging.
The minister lamented that despite the huge potential of the livestock sector, past administrations had largely ignored its development. However, he assured that President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to modernizing the sector.
As part of this modernization drive, the government has completed the digitization of all cattle routes nationwide and will establish fully equipped grazing reserves with the necessary infrastructure to support livestock farmers.
Source : https://tribuneonlineng.com/
