Abuja — The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria’s livestock industry currently contributes more than $32 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), underscoring its central role in food security, rural livelihoods, and job creation.
Speaking at the Policy Dialogue Workshop for the Valuation of PRISMA Project Results in Abuja, Director of the Technical Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mr. Peter Alike, said the government is determined to scale up the sector’s impact.
“We have a strategic plan running from 2025 to 2030. At present, livestock contributes about $32 billion to GDP. Our mission is to raise that figure to a baseline of $74 billion, with a high expectation of $94 billion within the next decade,” Alike explained.
He stressed that livestock is not just an economic driver but a national imperative. According to him, Nigeria’s estimated 50 million cattle, mostly owned by rural dwellers, highlight the urgency of ensuring adequate feed and food supply.
“Feed and food are matters of survival. If we fail to provide them, the consequences will directly affect rural livelihoods, human peace, and national stability,” he warned.
Alike emphasized that collaboration is the cornerstone of progress:
“This is the time for three things to be done. The first is collaboration. The second is collaboration. And the third is collaboration. We need each other now more than ever.”
He also cautioned against turning the PRISMA dialogue into a routine exercise without tangible outcomes.
“We don’t want this to end up as one of those workshops because it doesn’t make sense. If you exclude Nigeria from a project of this magnitude, you are not likely to succeed,” he said, noting that Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development.
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ECOWAS Reaffirms Regional Commitment
The Acting Executive Director of the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA), Mr. Konlani Kanfitin, reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to advancing livestock development and research collaboration across West Africa.
“The livestock sector occupies a central place in the economies of our member states. It contributes to food security, job creation, and the income of millions of rural households,” Kanfitin said.
He praised the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) for co-financing the PRISMA Project, which promotes climate-adapted, research-based innovations.
“This workshop is a key moment for reflection and collective action. It provides space for discussions and decision-making to improve the policy environment for research and innovation, thereby increasing the productivity and resilience of agro-pastoral systems in West Africa and the Sahel,” he added.
Tackling Feed Safety
Agricultural Engineer and PRISMA researcher, Dr. Fernando Escribano, highlighted the project’s focus on combating aflatoxins in livestock feed — toxic byproducts of fungi and bacteria that thrive under high moisture and temperature conditions.
“Aflatoxins don’t have borders. Environmental impact doesn’t have borders. That is why we chose harmonization. We need agreed methods to sample, detect, and measure aflatoxins in a simple but standardized way,” Escribano explained.
Strong Partnerships
The Abuja workshop was organized under the framework of ECOWAS’ regional agricultural policy (ECOWAP), with active participation from Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock Development. It was co-financed by the EU, AECID, Luxembourg Cooperation, Belgian Cooperation, and Spanish Cooperation, reflecting a strong partnership between regional bodies, national authorities, and international development partners.