Feeding Over 50 Million Cattle a National Emergency – Minister

The Federal Government has described Nigeria’s inability to adequately feed its over 50 million cattle as a national emergency requiring urgent attention. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, highlighted this at the opening of a two-day Policy Dialogue Workshop on the Valuation of PRISMA project results, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA).

Represented by Dr. Peter Alike, Director of the Technical Office of the Permanent Secretary, the minister noted that the livestock sector could contribute over $94 billion to the economy in 10 years if properly developed. Despite current challenges, including feed shortages, the sector already contributes more than $32 billion to Nigeria’s GDP.

“The 50 million cattle in rural hands must be fed. This is a national imperative and an emergency. Failure to provide adequate feed affects livelihoods, rural communities, and national peace. It is a matter of survival,” Maiha said. He emphasized that establishing a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening the sector and fostering national development.

Maiha also stressed the importance of collaboration with ECOWAS and regional partners to achieve food security. “Excluding Nigeria from regional projects would undermine their success, as we are uniquely positioned with a dedicated livestock ministry,” he added.

Acting Executive Director of ARAA, Konlani Kanfitin, reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to livestock development and research collaborations. He praised the European Union and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) for co-financing the PRISMA project, which aligns with ECOWAS’ Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) to transform agricultural and food systems in West Africa and the Sahel.

Highlighting technical concerns, Agricultural Engineer and PRISMA researcher Dr. Fernando Escribano focused on tackling aflatoxins in livestock feed—harmful fungal byproducts that affect feed safety. He stressed the need for standardised methods to detect and control aflatoxins across the region.

“The livestock sector is central to food security, job creation, and rural income. This workshop provides a platform for reflection and policy action to enhance productivity and resilience of agro-pastoral systems in West Africa and the Sahel,” Kanfitin added.