Kogi Transfers L-PRES Project to Ministry of Livestock Development, Strengthens Focus on Animal Agriculture

The Kogi State Government has formally transferred the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development — a move seen as a major step toward transforming the state’s livestock industry.

Source:kogireports

At a meeting of the Kogi L-PRES State Steering Committee in Lokoja, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, hailed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development. He described the move as timely and strategic in resolving long-standing challenges in the sector, including the farmers–herders conflict. Ojomah urged the State Project Coordinating Office to deepen collaboration with the new ministry and other stakeholders to ensure the project’s full success.

Receiving the project, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his visionary leadership in prioritizing livestock growth. He said the transition would allow for more focused attention on livestock production, animal health, and value-chain expansion — all vital for food security, job creation, and rural development.

Dr. Bolarin noted that aligning the L-PRES Project under the new ministry follows international best practices, enabling improved policy coordination, better management of ranching initiatives, and stronger support for livestock clusters across the state. He pledged to work closely with all partners to position Kogi as a leading hub for livestock development in West Africa.

Commissioners for Environment, Hon. Olusegun Joseph, and for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, called for unity and teamwork among committee members to sustain the project’s momentum. They emphasized that continued collaboration is essential to realizing Kogi’s ambition of becoming Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse.

Kogi L-PRES Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkabir Otaru, highlighted the project’s progress in boosting livestock productivity and resilience. He thanked Governor Ododo for his consistent support — including the prompt release of counterpart funds — and revealed that the World Bank has approved several sub-projects and capacity-building programs to strengthen the livestock sector across the state.