Nigeria’s Livestock Sector Suffers N7.17 Trillion Blow as Herd Losses Hit 40%

A new report has painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s livestock industry, revealing that persistent insecurity has inflicted losses of N7.17 trillion and wiped out as much as 40 per cent of the nation’s herds. The findings, released by Agramondis Research and Consulting, warn that cattle, sheep, and goats are among the worst hit, threatening both rural livelihoods and national food security.

Source: The Guardian Nigeria News

The livestock sector, home to more than 417 million animals, is a crucial pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing 10 per cent to agricultural GDP and providing work for over 4.5 million pastoralists and allied workers. Yet, despite its strategic importance, government investment remains modest, with just N1.77 billion earmarked in the 2025 budget for animal health improvements, disease prevention, and sustainable management.

According to the report, a mix of insecurity, climate change, and limited access to grazing land is crippling productivity. Farmer-herder clashes, erratic rainfall, and prolonged drought have slashed feed quality and availability, while poor record-keeping among smallholders continues to stifle growth. Analysts estimate that closing these gaps through digital tools, modern husbandry practices, and climate-resilient breeding could unlock trillions in untapped value.

The research warns that heat stress alone could reduce livestock output by 15 per cent annually, with losses approaching N904 billion, while drought-linked damages may reach N10.5 trillion each year. It identifies low-cost interventions such as water harvesting, forage conservation, and improved breeding as essential to reversing the trend. Without urgent reforms, the sector risks falling further behind at a time when domestic demand for animal protein is climbing rapidly.