The Gombe State Government says it is reforming the livestock sector to stimulate economic growth, strengthen food security and create jobs.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mr Salihu Baba Alkali, disclosed this in an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Gombe, saying the initiative reflected Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s vision to transform livestock production into a sustainable source of revenue for the state.
Alkali said the livestock development agenda was designed to complement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the sector already contributes significantly to Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
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He said the government was moving away from the traditional practice of selling live cattle towards developing an integrated value chain where animals would be bred, slaughtered, processed, packaged and transported from Gombe to markets within and outside the state.
According to him, the government has secured an 84-hectare agro-livestock zone where key facilities, including an international cattle market and a modern abattoir, are being developed.
He said the plan also included facilities for milk production and poultry to establish an integrated livestock value chain.
The commissioner said the government was promoting artificial insemination and cross-breeding to improve the quality and productivity of local cattle.
He added that the initiative was expected to attract private-sector investment once the necessary infrastructure was firmly established.
Alkali said producing and processing livestock locally would reduce transportation costs and other expenses associated with bringing cattle and animal products into the state.
He said the development would help reduce the prices of meat, milk and eggs for consumers.
The commissioner also said the state planned to develop local feed production, particularly through the cultivation of fast-growing Napier grass, which he described as nutritious and suitable for cattle and other livestock.
He said the ultimate objective was to transform Gombe from a state that mainly exports live cattle into one that processes livestock products locally and supplies meat and milk to other parts of Nigeria, including markets in the southern region.
According to him, the initiative would create employment opportunities, improve access to nutritious food and increase state revenue from livestock while reducing dependence on oil-related revenue.
On the participation of smallholder farmers, women and young people, Alkali said the government would create opportunities for both small- and large-scale farmers as the programme expands.
He said private-sector participation would also play an important role in the development of the sector.
The commissioner said the ministry currently had sufficient veterinary doctors to commence the programme, while additional personnel would be engaged as the sector expands.
He emphasised the importance of artificial insemination in improving livestock productivity without requiring a large number of breeding animals.
Alkali further disclosed that livestock operators had visited the ministry to congratulate him on his appointment and discuss the government’s plans to modernise livestock production.
He said the operators welcomed the initiative, particularly efforts to modernise cattle rearing and integrate production into a structured value chain.
He added that facilities being developed through government and development-partner support would provide the foundation for transforming livestock production in Gombe State.
The commissioner said the government’s broader objective was to establish a livestock sector capable of supporting food security, economic growth and sustainable peace.
He said the initiative could also contribute to addressing farmer-herder conflicts affecting parts of northern Nigeria.
Alkali expressed confidence that, if sustained, the livestock development agenda could make the sector a major pillar of Gombe State’s economy and provide a lasting foundation for economic development beyond the tenure of the present administration.
