The newly established Gombe State Ministry of Livestock Development has called for the support and cooperation of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to actualise the state government’s vision for transforming the livestock sector.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mr. Salihu Baba Alkali, made the call when the two organisations paid a courtesy visit to his office in Gombe.
He said that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya established the ministry to enhance livestock productivity, strengthen food security and unlock the economic potential of animal production in the state.
Mr. Alkali said “the ministry would focus on improving the production of healthy meat, milk, eggs and other animal products, noting that although these products were already being produced in Gombe State, production levels remained below their potential.”
He said the Governor wanted the state to become a major producer capable of supplying animal products to other parts of Nigeria and exporting them internationally.
Mr. Alkali said the government was moving away from the traditional practice of transporting live animals to other parts of the country and abroad.
He said instead, cattle would be properly bred, slaughtered, processed, packaged and frozen before being transported to markets such as Lagos and Abuja, as well as international destinations.
The Commissioner said “the International Cattle Market, Modern Abattoir and Milk Factory being established under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRES, would form part of the infrastructure required to achieve this transformation.”
He said the Modern Abattoir was being constructed with World Bank funding secured through L-PRES, while the International Cattle Market would provide a platform for the sale and processing of cattle for export.
Mr. Alkali said the facilities, including the Milk Factory, were expected to be commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his proposed visit to Gombe State.
He appealed to livestock breeders to give the new ministry maximum cooperation, promising that his doors would remain open to MACBAN and other breeders’ associations.
Mr. Alkali also stressed the importance of cross-breeding local cattle with improved foreign breeds to increase productivity and said successful collaboration would strengthen the livestock economy and improve the wealth of producers.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of MACBAN in Gombe State, Mallam Modibbo Yahaya, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya and President Tinubu, for their efforts to develop the livestock sector.
Mallam Yahaya specifically appreciated the Governor for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development and for providing infrastructure such as the Modern Abattoir and the International Cattle Market.
He recalled that even before President Tinubu assumed office, Governor Yahaya had consulted him on ways of developing and improving livestock production in Gombe State.
Mallam Yahaya said that Governor had demonstrated a strong commitment to modernising the sector, recognising that traditional methods of animal husbandry could no longer meet current demands.
