Federal Govt Moves To Power Economic Growth Through Livestock

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has inaugurated a new Technical Sub-Committee under the National Economic Council (NEC) to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s livestock sector as part of efforts to boost economic growth, enhance food security, and promote national cohesion.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this during the inaugural meeting of the sub-committee held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. He explained that the technical team was established to harmonise existing policies, studies, and proposals into a clear and actionable implementation framework that the National Economic Council can promptly adopt and execute.

Bagudu noted that the NEC had earlier constituted a high-level committee on livestock development chaired by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, with membership drawn from governors across the six geopolitical zones, key federal ministers, and the co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Development. However, he said the demands on governors’ schedules and the urgency of the assignment made it necessary to set up a smaller, technically focused team to fast-track the process.

He emphasised that the task before the sub-committee was not to start afresh but to distil existing reports and recommendations into a practical roadmap that could be implemented without delay. The minister also highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strong personal commitment to livestock development, describing it as a central pillar of the administration’s broader economic and agricultural transformation agenda.

According to Bagudu, the President views livestock as a major driver of food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth, rather than a marginal agricultural activity. He added that the President’s decision to personally chair the Presidential Committee on Livestock Development underscores the strategic importance the government attaches to the sector.

The minister further pointed to the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development as evidence of a policy shift that elevates the sector to a core component of national economic planning. He explained that livestock development aligns with Nigeria’s federal structure, where responsibilities for agriculture and food security are shared across federal, state, and local governments.

Bagudu said the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would continue to serve as a coordinating hub to ensure alignment between national plans, budgets, and programmes, stressing that effective livestock development requires collaboration across all tiers of government rather than isolated efforts.

He outlined several funding and support initiatives available to states and communities, including the World Bank-supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, NG-CARES, the Nigeria for Women Programme, and the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Plan. He explained that the ward-based initiative is designed to identify and support viable economic opportunities in all 8,809 wards nationwide.

The minister urged state commissioners to take ownership of the process, noting that once the NEC approves the committee’s recommendations, it would be easier for states and local governments to commit resources. He added that clear and stable policies would also help attract development partners, private investors, and impact financiers by reducing uncertainty and strengthening confidence in the sector.

Bagudu also acknowledged the long-standing tensions associated with livestock production in parts of the country, expressing optimism that the work of the sub-committee would help reposition the sector as a source of shared prosperity rather than conflict.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, described the gathering as a significant step in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. He stressed that food security remains closely linked to economic growth and national development, assuring that the ministry would continue to coordinate efforts to achieve sustainable outcomes.

The meeting was attended by key government officials and industry experts, including Senator Bagudu as chairman of the sub-committee; Dr. Ebimaro; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, Kingsley Uzoma; commissioners for budget and planning from Cross River, Kebbi, and Niger states; senior officials of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; representatives of the L-PRES project; private sector stakeholders; livestock policy advisers; and the Minister of Livestock, Alhaji Idi Maiha.

With the technical sub-committee now in place, the Federal Government says the focus will shift to translating years of research and policy work into a concrete action plan aimed at modernising livestock production, improving livelihoods for farmers and herders, and supporting Nigeria’s broader goals of economic growth and national stability.