FG Seeks Public-Private Partnerships to Boost Livestock Sector

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to attract private sector investment into Nigeria’s livestock industry, promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy to modernise the sector, expand production capacity, and enhance food security nationwide.

At a recent stakeholder engagement, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development, urged private investors, agribusinesses, and development partners to collaborate with federal ministries and agencies to improve livestock farming, strengthen value chains, and introduce modern technology to animal husbandry practices.

The minister emphasised that the livestock sector holds immense potential for economic growth, rural employment, and poverty reduction if effectively leveraged with private capital and expertise.

The government’s renewed focus on PPPs is part of a broader initiative to revitalise 38 dormant livestock facilities across all six geopolitical zones.

These facilities, many of which have been underutilised for years, are earmarked for rehabilitation and modernisation with private sector support, creating opportunities for commercial livestock production and enhanced supply of meat, dairy, and other animal products.

This approach aligns with the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which aims to transform livestock farming from subsistence activity into a commercially viable and competitive sector.

Through the strategy, stakeholders are encouraged to invest in feed production, animal health services, processing, and market development, thereby increasing the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Officials also highlighted the critical role of private investment in strengthening food security.

With domestic demand for meat and dairy products consistently outstripping local supply, PPPs are expected to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve product quality. By attracting both multinational agribusinesses and local entrepreneurs, the government seeks to modernise breeding practices, expand cold-chain facilities, and stimulate value-added processing, ultimately benefitting consumers and creating jobs in rural communities.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture and livestock as key drivers of national development. Previous measures, such as the 15-year National Livestock Master Plan, laid the foundation for private sector engagement, and the current strategy aims to deepen collaboration, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term resilience in the livestock industry.

Analysts say that if successful, these PPP arrangements could revolutionise Nigeria’s livestock sector, boost rural incomes, create employment, enhance food availability, and strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub for animal protein production. Government officials and industry stakeholders have reiterated that cooperation between public agencies and private enterprises will be central to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector into a vibrant, competitive, and economically significant industry.