The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has outlined a comprehensive roadmap for unlocking Nigeria’s projected $74 billion livestock economy, stressing that bold reforms, strategic investments and stronger private sector participation are critical to achieving the target by 2035.

Vanguard reported that speaking at the Vanguard Economic Discourse 2026 in Lagos, the minister, who was represented by Prof. Eustace Iyayi, said Nigeria’s vast livestock population and market potential remain largely underutilised due to low productivity, weak value chains, poor access to finance and infrastructure deficits. He noted that despite contributing between 5 and 8 per cent to GDP, the sector holds far greater capacity to drive food security, economic diversification and mass employment if properly harnessed.

Maiha, who unveiled a 10-point Nigerian Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, said the Federal Government is focusing on improving feed and fodder systems, animal health, genetics, financing, and market infrastructure, while also promoting public-private partnerships and technology adoption. He emphasised that addressing food security challenges and rising inflation requires urgent, coordinated action to transform agriculture from a sector of potential into one of performance.

He said, “Of food security, we recognize that across the globe, food systems are undergoing profound stress, climatic variability, geographical distortions, inflationary pressures, and rapid population growth are reshaping how nations produce, distribute, and consume food.

“In Nigeria, these global challenges are further compounded by domestic structural constraints, which are some of the issues we will be discussing today. Some of these include low productivity, weak value chains, infrastructure deficits, and security concerns, especially in key farming areas.

“Today, the issue before us is clear, and that is, how do we reposition Nigeria’s agriculture to not only feed our growing populations, but also stabilize our economy and unlock inclusive growth potentials. Agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economy. It contributes approximately about 24 to 26 percent of the national GDP, and employs close to 35 to 40 percent of the labor force, making it one of the largest sources of livelihood in the country.

“Yet, despite this significance, Nigeria continues to face persistent food insecurity challenges. According to estimates from FAO World Bank, over 25 million Nigerians are still at risk of acute food insecurity, while food inflation has remained above 30 percent in recent periods, significantly eroding the purchasing power and deepening poverty. This paradox of abundance in resources or scarcity in outcomes highlights the urgent need for structural transformation, which, of course we know, the government has also been actively working on.

“For livestock, the strategic role of livestock in food security stands at the heart of this transformation. As livestock and its lives, the transformation lies in the livestock sector also. Livestock contributes about 5 to 8 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, and accounts for nearly one-third of agricultural GDP.

“Beyond these figures, livestock plays a critical role in nutrition, particularly in addressing protein deficiency. Average per capita animal protein consumption in Nigeria is estimated to be about 7 to 10 grams per day, which is far below the recommended minimum of 20 grams per day. But as it stands now, according to data that we recently had in the ministry, Nigeria’s livestock population is substantial when you compare it with the population of livestock in other African countries.

“Digital and technological solutions can transform agriculture through precision farming, market access platforms, livestock identification systems, disease surveillance tools, and digital extension services. Now, we also need to look at public-private partnerships as an engine of growth in agricultural rebounds. The scale of transformation required cannot be driven by the government alone.

“If we want to rely on the budgetary allocation, it is going to be very difficult to transform the agricultural system. So one of the models we are propounding is large-scale investment in agriculture by the private sector. That has to be pursued.

“Models have to be worked out that will make it attractive to people who have big bank accounts, who put the money in agriculture, as we currently see it done in other sectors. So we need, for this, public policy clarity, regulatory stability, and main infrastructure. And therefore the private sector can bring in capital, innovation, efficiency, and scalability.

“I would like to say that it is time to move from dialogue to action, so that we can have results being delivered. As we deliberate, we must move beyond discussion to tangible outcomes. Nigeria has no shortage of policies or frameworks.

“The challenge has been implementation. This summit must deliver on four areas that I am going to enumerate. One, actionable policy recommendations.

“Two, investment-ready projects. Three, strategic partnerships. And four, measurable targets. In conclusion, I would like to have a call to national commitment. The U.S. stands at a critical junction. With a population projected to exceed 250 million by 2030, demand for food and rice will happen.

“This presents a unique opportunity. If we act decisively, agriculture can become a driver of economic diversification, a source of mass employment, a foundation for industrial growth, and a guarantor of national security. A failure to act will result in rising hunger, economic poverty, and increased social instability.

“As chairman of this summit, I call on all stakeholders to commit to a shared vision of food-secure, economically stable, and prosperous Nigeria. Let us work together to transform agriculture from a sector of potential into a sector of performance. Thank you for your attention and God bless Nigeria.”