The Kogi State Government has officially handed over the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project to the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development.
The project, jointly funded by the World Bank, the Kogi State Government, and local partners, was previously managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Speaking during the handover, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah, said; “the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by the administration of President Bola Tinubu was designed to address challenges in the livestock sector, particularly farmer-herder conflicts across the country.”
Ojomah, who chaired the State Steering Committee before the transition, commended members for their collaboration with stakeholders in driving the implementation of the L-PRES Project.
He urged the State Project Coordinating Office to strengthen synergy with the new ministry and other relevant agencies to achieve the project’s objectives.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his vision in creating the new ministry, describing it ‘as a strategic step toward enhancing livestock production, animal health, and value-chain development.’
Dr. Bolarin said; “the takeover of the L-PRES Project by the new ministry aligns with global best practices and will help consolidate livestock policies, improve coordination, and promote ranch development and animal health services.”
He pledged to work with all stakeholders to make Kogi a model for livestock development in West Africa.
Also speaking, the Commissioners for Environment, Olusegun Joseph, and for Water Resources, Yahaya Farouk, stressed the need for collaboration among ministries and partners to achieve the state’s strategic development goals.
The State Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkabir Otaru, said the L-PRES Project has recorded notable progress in livestock productivity and resilience, with several World Bank approvals secured for infrastructure, training, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing the livestock sector in Kogi State