The federal government has expressed concern over Nigeria's low consumption of meat and milk, attributing the trend to weak livestock productivity. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, stated that years of underinvestment and poor integration of the livestock sector into the formal economy have contributed to the problem. He noted that Nigeria's livestock sector holds a $32 billion potential but remains underdeveloped. Maiha emphasized that limited access to animal protein affects nutrition and economic growth. He said the sector's challenges include inadequate infrastructure, disease control gaps, and insufficient funding. The minister disclosed that current meat and milk consumption levels are far below recommended dietary standards. He called for increased public and private investment to modernize the sector. Maiha also highlighted the need for policy coherence and better coordination among stakeholders. He pointed out that pastoralism remains largely informal, with minimal access to veterinary services and markets.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha points to $32bn in untapped potential while admitting the sector suffers from years of neglect, yet offers no timeline or budget for reversing the decline. If livestock development remains stuck in policy discussion without direct support to herders and farmers, the gap between promise and reality will widen. Millions of Nigerians who depend on livestock for food and income will continue to face preventable losses. The minister's diagnosis is clear, but the absence of actionable steps makes the $32bn figure little more than an estimate on paper.
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