The Federal Government has unveiled plans to transform the Wudil Livestock Market in Kano State into a world-class livestock trading hub and a benchmark for modern livestock commerce across West Africa.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection of key livestock facilities in Kano State as part of his three-day working visit, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the livestock value chain through improved infrastructure, industrial processing and efficient market systems.
Describing Wudil as a strategic national asset, the Minister said the market is one of the busiest livestock trading centres in Northern Nigeria, handling an estimated 130 truckloads of livestock every week, with each truck conveying no fewer than 35 cattle. He noted that its commercial significance provides a strong foundation for its transformation into an international-standard livestock market.
Maiha, however, observed that despite its economic importance, the market faces major infrastructural and environmental challenges, including poor sanitation, inadequate slaughter facilities, the absence of loading bays, weak veterinary services and limited regulatory systems.
He said the Federal Government intends to redesign the market into a permanent, modern livestock exchange that will operate daily and meet global best practices.
According to the Minister, the reform will promote a shift from the traditional sale of live animals to a value-added livestock system driven by feedlots, modern abattoirs and efficient processing facilities. He explained that reducing weight losses suffered by animals during transportation would improve productivity and increase returns for livestock producers.
The proposed upgrade will include structured animal pens, designated holding areas for different species, veterinary quarantine and inspection units, administrative offices, banking facilities, security posts, hospitality services and organised commercial spaces.
Maiha added that the market would be fully fenced and operated under a regulated entry and transaction system, where livestock would be registered, weighed and tracked to enhance transparency, accountability and revenue generation for the Kano State Government.
Speaking during the visit, the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Aliyu Isa Aliyu, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a transformative intervention that aligns with the state’s agricultural modernisation agenda.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Government to upgrade the Wudil Livestock Market into a model facility capable of serving as a reference point for livestock trade across the West African sub-region.
As part of the visit, the Minister also inspected selected feedlots in Wudil and the Wudil Milk Collection Centre, where he engaged stakeholders on strengthening dairy aggregation and expanding opportunities across the livestock value chain.
He further visited the Samal Integrated Farm, where he received a briefing on the farm’s operations and discussed strategies to support its future expansion and contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
