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Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, has commended Propcom+ interventions in the livestock sector.
Maiha reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s livestock sector through strategic partnerships, policy reforms, and sustained private sector investment, describing ongoing interventions by the UK-funded Propcom+ programme as impactful and aligned with national priorities.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting at the weekend in Abuja, where Propcom+ briefed the management of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development on its interventions in the sector, the Minister commended the organisation for its transparency, results-driven approach, and continued support to livestock transformation.
The minister represented at the meeting by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Stephen Ohaeri, said the engagement reflects the Ministry’s resolve to work closely with development partners to address longstanding bottlenecks in animal health, feed production, vaccine supply, and institutional capacity.
He further assured Propcom+ of the Ministry’s readiness to provide the required policy support and coordination needed to scale successful pilots, streamline regulatory processes, and encourage increased private sector participation, particularly in vaccine manufacturing, animal health service delivery, and feed production.
The Minister also reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive growth, noting that interventions that empower women and improve last-mile service delivery are critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Earlier, the Country Representative and Political Director of Propcom+ in Nigeria, Dr. Adiya Ode, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to formally brief the Ministry on Propcom+ livestock interventions, align future activities with government priorities as the programme enters its fourth year, and seek high-level support to address identified sectoral constraints.
Ode described Propcom+ as an eight-year, UK Government-funded programme that commenced in 2022, with Palladium-led implementation beginning in 2023.
The programme, she said, adopts a market-led approach to transforming rural economies, with a strong focus on addressing climate, conflict, and productivity challenges.
Focusing on livestock-specific interventions, Dr.Ode highlighted the piloting of solar-powered cold chain solutions for poultry and livestock vaccines, addressing last-mile delivery challenges.
She said through partnerships with private agro-veterinary dealers, 58 agro-vets across Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and Adamawa States have been equipped with solar refrigerators under a commercially viable, market-based model.
She further disclosed that 525 community animal health workers and veterinary para-professionals are currently delivering animal health services in rural communities, enabling over 456,000 livestock farmers to access paid vaccination and advisory services.
She said Propcom+ has also supported eight veterinary pharmaceutical distributors to scale up service delivery models across multiple states.
On feed and nutrition, Dr. Ode announced the successful pilot of commercial alfalfa production in Jigawa State through Matura Agro, with over 200 tonnes harvested and more than £924,000 in private investment leveraged.
The intervention, according to her, has demonstrated the potential for Nigeria to become a regional hub for high-protein livestock feed, with prospects for export earnings and improved dairy productivity.
In the area of vaccine production, she said, Propcom+ has provided a grant exceeding £1 million to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to upgrade production equipment and energy systems, targeting an increase in PPR and Newcastle disease vaccine production from 15 million to 110 million doses by 2028.
According to her, the programme has also conducted market, policy, and energy assessments to address supply gaps, regulatory bottlenecks, and high production costs.
The Country Representative also appealed to the Ministry to sustain high-level engagement and policy support to enable Propcom+ scale up its livestock interventions, particularly by fast-tracking regulatory reforms such as the amendment of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, and strengthening coordination with state governments and relevant agencies, while encouraging institutionalised donor coordination through a livestock working group to avoid duplication, align priorities, and maximise development impact across the sector.
She said by 2030, Propcom+ aims to support 4.1 million smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs, build resilience for 3.79 million beneficiaries, and significantly improve incomes, leveraging £204 million in private sector investments from an initial £95 million UK Government commitment.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Mr. Idris Ajimobi, appreciated Propcom+ for its sustained engagement and encouraged the organisation to expand its support in a sector that has received renewed national attention under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
He reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to reposition livestock as a key driver of food security, employment, and economic growth.
This was contained in a statement issued by Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
In attendance were Directors of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Special Advisers to the Minister of Livestock Development, the Commissioner for Livestock Development in Kwara State, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas Adebayo, representatives of the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), and other officials from Propcom+, underscoring the multi-stakeholder approach required to sustainably transform Nigeria’s livestock sector.
