Borno, Dar Al Halal Join Forces to Transform Livestock Industry and Boost Exports

Borno State is set to unlock the full potential of its vast livestock resources through a new partnership between the Borno State Livestock Management Agency (BOLMA) and agribusiness giant, Dar Al Halal. The collaboration aims to create jobs, boost internally generated revenue, and position the state as a hub for livestock exports.

With an estimated 10 million cattle, sheep, and goats, Borno holds one of the largest livestock populations in Nigeria—an advantage that stakeholders believe can be harnessed to transform the economy.

Speaking in Maiduguri at the unveiling of the initiative, Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, who also oversees the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, said the partnership marks a turning point. He noted that the integration of a Halal ecosystem would align Borno with global economic trends and support the Federal Government’s push for diversification.

Kadafur stressed that the collaboration with Dar Al Halal, BOLMA, and representatives of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) would provide Nigerian entrepreneurs with an effective platform to grow the livestock sector to international standards.

Reaffirming government’s commitment, BOLMA’s Director General, Dr. Bukar Ali Usman, highlighted Governor Babagana Zulum’s vision of using the livestock industry as a tool to fight unemployment and food insecurity.

After touring the Mafa Ruga Settlement Centre along the Maiduguri–Dikwa road, Executive Director of Al Halal Business Group, Dr. Abdulmutallib Dikko, praised the facilities as world-class. He described Borno as the state with the strongest livestock potential in Nigeria, adding that the modern Ruga centres provide the right foundation for large-scale livestock development.

The project will not only improve food security and livelihoods in local government areas such as Gubio, Askira/Uba, and Mafa but also support the production of beef, milk, hides, and skins. Officials say these outputs could revive Nigeria’s leather industry and open new streams of foreign exchange earnings.