ABUJA — The newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has unveiled an aggressive roadmap to transform Nigeria from a net importer of meat into a global powerhouse in the red meat market. During a 2026 budget defense session on February 20, Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha revealed that Nigeria is currently missing out on an international red meat market valued at over N3.2 trillion ($2.1 billion) annually.
Despite possessing one of Africa’s largest livestock populations, the Minister shared a startling statistic: 65% of the livestock consumed in Nigeria is currently imported. The 2026 strategy aims to reverse this trend by commercializing the value chain and meeting the “paddock-to-plate” standards required for global export.
The Infrastructure of Export: Traceability & Health
To enter high-value markets like the EU or the Middle East, Nigeria must move beyond traditional grazing. The Minister identified three non-negotiable pillars for 2026:
-
National Livestock Identification & Traceability System (NLITS): A digital framework to track individual animals from birth to slaughter. This is critical for disease control and curbing cattle rustling.
-
Genetic Improvement: Embarking on a massive upgrade of indigenous breeds to increase beef yield and dairy output.
-
Modernized Abattoirs: Transitioning from local slaughter slabs to export-grade processing plants with integrated cold chain logistics.
The Funding Crisis: “Lip Service” to Diversification
A significant tension point during the defense was the Ministry’s lean budget. Since its creation in 2024, the FMLD has faced severe fiscal constraints:
-
Take-off Grant: Only N20 billion of the approved N75 billion was released in 2024.
-
2025 Budget: The Ministry reported zero releases for the capital vote in 2025.
-
Legislative Backlash: Senators expressed “disgust” at the funding gaps, calling it a contradiction of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda for economic diversification.
The 2026 Action Plan
Beyond the budget, the Ministry is moving on several operational fronts:
-
Brazil-Nigeria-UK Partnership: A triple-threat collaboration to boost livestock productivity through shared technology and breeding practices.
-
Grazing Reserve Rehabilitation: Fixing service centers to reduce seasonal migration and minimize farmer-herder conflicts.
-
Vaccine Regulation: Strengthening the supply chain for livestock vaccines to maintain a “disease-free” status for export.
“Our objective is to move from subsistence production to a structured commercial system… the livestock sector must transition from traditional practices to modern enterprise,” Minister Maiha stated.
