The National Assembly has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s handling of the livestock industry, nearly two years after the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The concern arose during a budget defence session on Friday, where the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed that about 65 per cent of the animals consumed annually in Nigeria are imported, despite the country’s potential for red meat production and export valued at N3.2 billion.
Maiha also revealed that funding for the ministry has been grossly inadequate since its establishment. “Out of N70 billion approved as take-off fund for the Ministry in 2024, only N20 billion has been released so far. Despite N10 billion appropriated as capital vote for 2025, nothing was given,” he said.
The submission drew sharp criticism from members of the joint National Assembly Committee on Livestock Development. Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), who chairs the committee, said the poor funding runs counter to the Federal Government’s stated policy of economic diversification under President Bola Tinubu.
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Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), Senate Whip, described the situation as “paying lip service” to the livestock sector, stressing that the ministry was established to drive diversification of the national economy.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) raised concerns over possible sabotage, suggesting the zero capital allocation might not have been brought to the President’s attention. He urged the ministry’s management to communicate challenges openly to enable lawmakers to escalate the issue.
In closing, Senator Buba emphasised that reliance on a mono-sector economy is unsustainable and reiterated the committee’s commitment to securing adequate funding for the ministry to place Nigeria on a sustainable path of economic diversification.