FG Reaffirms Commitment to Boosting Livestock Production

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has reaffirmed its commitment to boost the production and productivity levels of livestock in the country.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi stated this while speaking at the 59th Congress and Annual General Meeting of the National Veterinary Medical Association of Nigeria (NVMA) in Lagos State, recently.

He said the move is vital considering the fact that the sub-sector account for about 10 per cent of National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 25 per cent of agricultural GDP and provides livelihood to over 30 per cent of the Nigerian rural population.

Abdullahi revealed that to meet the increasing gap in the availability, affordability, safety of food of animal origin and animal products, there is need to maximise the production and productivity levels of the livestock resource of the country which can be achieved through efficient and strategic animal disease prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment.

He also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the livestock sub-sector to address challenges affecting food and nutrition security in the country.

The event, which was tagged, “The Changing Spectrum of the Global Economy and Need for Professions to Align with Global realities,” was apt in the light of the current challenges facing the country and the globe at large.

The minister of state noted that climate change, upsurge in outbreaks of trans boundary animal diseases, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, natural disasters, insecurity, unfortunate perennial farmers-herders clashes among other factors that are persistent in the sub-Saharan Africa are affecting the livelihoods of people and posing threats to global peace and food and nutritional security.

He said: “All these factors informed our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to prioritise food security, economic growth, poverty eradication, inclusiveness and others as his main focal areas (The 8-Point) of his Renewed Hope Agenda.”  

In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya, said that the state is working tirelessly to take agriculture and food system to greater heights as the cornerstone of the economy.

The governor added that the state had launched a five year agricultural and food system roadmap, which is meant to showcase the opportunities that are available in the state and to bring in private sectors players, multinational investors as well as NGOs to work together with to boost food security.

Earlier in her address, the National President of NVMA, Dr. Adetuberu Olutoyin, said that the meeting was an attestation of the association’s shared commitment, adding that their roles as veterinarians were to ensure food safety and promote animal health welfare.