Nigeria plans to nearly double the value of its livestock industry to US$74 billion over the next decade, as part of a broader push to strengthen food security and drive economic growth, officials said.
The strategy, unveiled at an economic forum in Lagos, aims to expand the sector from an estimated US$32 billion currently to US$74 billion by 2035 through a comprehensive reform programme targeting productivity, financing and infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of Livestock Development Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha, adviser Eustace Iyayi said the government had developed a 10-pillar transformation plan to unlock the sector’s potential.
“Agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economy,” Iyayi said, noting it contributes roughly a quarter of gross domestic product and employs about 40 percent of the workforce. “Yet the country continues to grapple with persistent food insecurity.”
Nigeria is facing mounting pressure on its food systems, with more than 25 million people at risk of acute food insecurity and food inflation remaining above 30 percent in recent periods, eroding household purchasing power.
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Officials say the livestock sector will play a critical role in addressing these challenges. It accounts for between five and eight percent of GDP and about a third of agricultural output, but suffers from low productivity despite large animal populations.
Nigeria has one of Africa’s biggest livestock bases, including tens of millions of cattle, sheep and goats, as well as hundreds of millions of poultry. However, constraints in feed supply, animal health systems, genetics and market infrastructure have limited output.
Protein consumption also remains well below recommended levels, highlighting the sector’s importance for nutrition. Average intake of animal protein in Nigeria is estimated at just 7 to 10 grams per person per day, compared with a recommended minimum of 20 grams.
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The government’s reform agenda includes improving feed and fodder systems, strengthening veterinary services, expanding access to finance and investing in data systems and infrastructure across the livestock value chain.
Access to affordable credit remains a major hurdle. Iyayi warned that high borrowing costs, often exceeding 20 percent, are unsustainable for agricultural investment and called for lending at single-digit interest rates.
Security challenges in farming communities and significant post-harvest losses—estimated at up to 40 percent for perishable goods—also continue to weigh on the sector.
Stakeholders at the forum stressed that food security must be treated as a national priority, warning that rising prices and supply disruptions could have wider economic and social consequences.
“Food security is no longer just an agricultural issue,” Iyayi said. “It is a pillar of national security and economic resilience.”
Analysts say that if successfully implemented, the livestock expansion plan could help reduce food imports, stabilise prices and create jobs, while strengthening Nigeria’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
