Yobe produces 10m livestock yearly — Buni

Yobe State produces nearly 10 million livestock annually, Governor Mai Mala Buni has said, describing the state as one of the largest livestock-producing areas in sub-Saharan Africa.

Buni disclosed this on Saturday while flagging off the distribution of livestock vaccines and commissioning facilities at the Livestock Service Centre in Nasari Grazing Reserve, Jakusko Local Government Area.

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ali Mustapha Goniri, the governor said the state had invested billions of naira in livestock infrastructure and inputs since the establishment of the grazing reserve in 2019 in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He said the livestock service centre was established to improve productivity, reduce farmer-herder conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence among communities.

“We remain fully committed to making livestock productivity one of the cardinal objectives of this administration,” Buni said.

The governor added that the government would continue investing in the sector to improve livelihoods and strengthen food security in the state.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commended Yobe for its investments in the sector, describing the state as a model for livestock development.

Maiha noted that Yobe was among the first states to establish a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development after President Bola Tinubu created the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

He also announced plans to establish a modern large-scale abattoir in Damaturu to facilitate livestock processing, cold-chain preservation, labelling and certification.

According to him, the facility would enable Yobe to move from exporting live animals to supplying processed and packaged meat across Nigeria.

“This is about adding value, creating jobs, and ensuring food security. Yobe has the volume and the vision. With this abattoir, we are not just herding cattle; we are building an industry,” Maiha said.

The National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support programme, Sunusi Abubakar, said Nigeria currently had seven livestock service centres in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Oyo, Niger and Taraba states.

He said the choice of Yobe for one of the centres was informed by the state’s livestock resources and development potential.

The State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Adama Hussaini Madaki, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving livestock productivity and resilience across its 17 local government areas.

She also thanked stakeholders for their support towards the implementation of livestock development projects in the state.

The commissioning formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with states, expand livestock production, create jobs and improve food security.