By Chinyere Anyanwu
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to harness the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s livestock sector as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth and attract private investment.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, announced the initiative while addressing a recent breakfast meeting of the Agro-Allied Group of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The minister, who acknowledged that the government was aware of the enormous potential possessed by the livestock sector to turn the fortunes of the country around, said: ‘’We recognise that achieving these goals requires strong collaboration with the private sector, development partners, research institutions, and international stakeholders, including our partners from the United States.
‘’The ministry remains open to partnerships that advance technology transfer, capacity building, investment, market access, and sustainable livestock development.’’
He said their shared commitment is to strengthen partnerships that drive innovation, investment, food security, and sustainable economic growth.
In her goodwill message, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, who described the theme of the event, “Harvest of Opportunity: Nigeria-US Agribusiness Partnership for the 21st Century,” as timely and significant, added that agriculture is so important that it “is no longer viewed only as a means of food production but also as a strategic sector for economic diversification, job creation, industrial development, food security, and international trade.”
Ms Olusanya, represented by an official of the ministry, Mr. Olusina Shobande, said though Lagos is the smallest state in Nigeria by landmass, it is the country’s largest consumer market and commercial hub.
‘’This unique position presents enormous opportunities for investors across the agricultural value chain, from production and agro-processing to logistics, technology, storage, marketing, and agro-exports.
‘’Under the visionary leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, we are implementing strategic initiatives to transform our food system through modern infrastructure, improved market access, private sector participation, and innovation. Projects such as the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub, and our network of mid-level agro-produce hubs, are designed to strengthen food distribution, reduce post-harvest losses, improve food security, while creating opportunities for businesses and investors.”
She said the objective of the meeting aligned with the state’s vision for building an efficient, resilient, and investment-friendly agricultural sector. ‘’We believe that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and the United States will accelerate technology transfer, attract investment, promote value addition, and expand access to international markets,’’ she added.
Furthermore, Olusanya said, ‘’as we pursue these opportunities, we must also ensure that smallholder farmers remain the center of our development efforts by improving their access to finance, technology, quality inputs, and profitable markets. Inclusive growth is the foundation of a sustainable agricultural economy.
‘’The Lagos State government remains committed to providing an enabling environment that encourages investment, innovation, and strategic partnership. We welcome local and international investors, development partners, and agribusiness enterprises to collaborate with us in unlocking the enormous potential of agriculture in Lagos State and Nigeria.”
She hailed the NACC for creating the platform for dialogue and partnership, saying that the discussions would yield collaborations that would strengthen agribusiness ties between Nigeria and the US and contribute to food security and economic prosperity.
NACC National President, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, said integrating logistics with export compliance are where those same jobs are converted into better-paying, more stable income, and where the youth in particular would find work that does not require them to leave the sector to find dignity.
He noted that though Nigeria does not lack the sector, what it lacked was the conversion. He urged that discussions at the event should focus on closing that gap. He also said agriculture does not merely remain Nigeria’s largest contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ‘’it becomes the fastest one — the one creating jobs at the pace our population demands, and one this chamber and this partnership are positioned to accelerate.
‘’It is said an increase — a three per cent increment in agricultural productivity will translate to over seven per cent rise in our GDP, and that is a fact,’’ he added.
NACC Agric and Agro-Allied Sectoral Group Chairman, Mr. Tunde Temowo, noted that Nigeria sits on extraordinary agriculture potential, vast arable land, a youthful workforce, and a growing appetite for value addition across the agro-allied value chain.
On its part, too, he said, the United States brings decades of technological advancement, investment capital, and market access experience.
The meeting was timely as the government policy continued to prioritise food security and livestock development at the federal level, and as Lagos State deepens its agricultural investment, driven by the private sector, represented by members and partners, it has a critical role to play in translating policy into productive and bankable ventures.
US Agriculture Counsellor, Foreign Agriculture Service, Dr. Christopher Bielecki, said his country and Nigeria have had a “wonderful relationship” with bilateral trade increasing year-on-year, adding that there are opportunities for growth in value addition.
Bielecki, who is optimistic that things could get better, listed feeds as an area that has the potential to grow.
The post FG woos US, private investors to unlock Nigeria’s livestock potential appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
