The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector through stronger collaboration with producers, the adoption of modern production systems and strategic partnerships with state governments and private investors.
The Minister stated this on Friday, June 19, 2026, during the first day of a three-day working visit to Katsina State, where he inspected major livestock facilities and engaged stakeholders across the livestock value chain. The facilities visited included a privately owned ranch in Charanchi Local Government Area, the Katsina State Goat Multiplication and Genetic Improvement Centre in Rimi Local Government Area, the Obasanjo Sheep and Goat Farm and Jobe Farm in the Barhim area of the state.
Speaking after the inspections, Maiha explained that the visit was part of the Ministry’s commitment to moving beyond policy discussions and engaging directly with livestock producers to better understand the realities, challenges and opportunities within the sector.
He described the ranch in Charanchi as clear evidence that ranching is both feasible and profitable in Nigeria when supported by sound investment and modern management practices.
According to the Minister, the ranch spans approximately 150 hectares with more than 50 hectares already dedicated to pasture cultivation and supported by an earth dam for dry-season irrigation. He noted that the farm has invested in improved cattle genetics through Gudali-Holstein crossbreeding, reflecting a strong focus on dairy production.
Maiha said the success of the ranch dispels the misconception that modern ranching is either impractical or prohibitively expensive in Nigeria, adding that such investments provide a sustainable model for livestock production, food security and economic growth.
The Minister also commended the Katsina State Goat Multiplication and Genetic Improvement Centre, describing it as an innovative initiative aimed at empowering women and youth through livestock ownership and enterprise development.
At the time of the visit, the facility housed about 3,000 goats and serves as a breeding and multiplication centre for livestock distribution programmes across the state.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of creating economic opportunities through livestock development and expressed optimism about deeper collaboration with the state government to further strengthen and expand the programme.
At the Obasanjo Sheep and Goat Farm, Maiha praised the investment as another demonstration of the vast opportunities within Nigeria’s livestock sector. He disclosed that technical assessments, including sample collection for disease surveillance and laboratory analysis, had been carried out to support improved animal health management.
The Minister stressed the need for commercially viable livestock enterprises integrated with markets, science, technology and processing industries.
“We do not want designer farms; we want commercially viable farms linked to markets, science, technology and processing industries. With modern abattoirs and livestock processing facilities coming on stream, we need producers who can consistently supply quality animals to meet growing demand,” he said.
He urged Nigerians, particularly young people and investors, to take advantage of the emerging opportunities within the livestock value chain, describing the sector as a critical driver of food security, job creation, rural development and economic diversification.
Speaking on the state’s livestock development efforts, the Katsina State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Ahmad Mohammad Bakori, said the state government has continued to invest in animal health services, disease control and livestock empowerment programmes.
He disclosed that seven veterinary clinics across the state had been rehabilitated and equipped to provide quality animal healthcare services, while annual statewide immunisation campaigns were being intensified to curb the spread of transboundary animal diseases.
Bakori further revealed that Katsina State, working closely with the Federal Government, successfully contained an outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) recorded last year through rapid intervention, targeted vaccination and movement control measures.
He added that the Goat Multiplication Centre is set to become a major breeding hub with the introduction of artificial insemination and genetic improvement programmes aimed at boosting livestock productivity and reducing dependence on external sources of breeding stock.
