Livestock can contribute N33tn to economy-Minister

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has said the livestock sector, if properly nurtured, can contribute N33tn to the nation’s economy.

The minister stated this at an inaugural meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Livestock Development on Tuesday in Abuja.

He noted that once unbundled, the sector has the potential to attract a lot of investment in the country.

The minister said Nigerian businessmen have already indicated interest in going into ranching and dairy farming across the country.

“At the moment we are taking stock of those state governments that have external ministry of livestock and fisheries. For state governments that have not created,  they should give it effect and have a standing Ministry for Livestock for a seamless relationship between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the State Ministries of Livestock as the case may be.

“This sector sector is worth about N33tn once unbundled. Once unbundled, we have a huge opportunity to attract capital into the country as well as have a lot of ranchers.

“At the moment, we have a lot of requests from Nigerian businessmen who want to go into ranching and dairy activities.

“So it is a question of settling down and unbundling this Ministry, giving it to the formal sector so that it can be derisked and people will know that beyond what everybody has been saying before the creation of this Ministry, there is a strong political support from the office of the President and then this committee,” the minister said.

The Chairman of the Committee, Wale Raji, called for the transformation of the livestock sector for meaningful economic growth.

He said the committee understood the urgency the sector needs and promised to legislative partnership for the development of the sector.

“The only regret is that the creation of the ministry is coming this late. But our consolation is that it is better late than never. And with your wealth of experience as a technocrat and also a practicing farmer, we do not doubt that we have a round peg in a round hole. The whole essence would be towards the development and progress of the country,” he said