FG Says Poor-Quality Animal Feed Stalling Livestock Modernisation

The Federal Government has identified poor-quality animal feed as a major obstacle to the growth and modernisation of livestock farming across Nigeria, ECOWAS, and the Sahel region.

Source:dailynews.

Speaking at the opening of a high-level regional workshop on animal feed development, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said the challenge has left farmers vulnerable and weakened the region’s capacity to meet rising food demand. She noted that despite the region’s vast potential in animal production and traditional livestock knowledge, poor feed quality continues to hold the sector back.

According to her, the problem goes beyond feed alone — it is also tied to weak industrial infrastructure, dependence on imported inputs, climate pressures, and a lack of regional coordination. These issues, she said, have made livestock farming less competitive and slowed progress toward food security and economic growth.

Dr. Akujobi described the workshop as a crucial step toward reversing the trend, stressing that collaboration between public and private stakeholders could unlock new opportunities for the animal feed industry. She explained that Nigeria’s livestock policy is already aligned with this vision through the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NLGAS), a 10-year plan aimed at boosting feed production, productivity, and sustainability.

She expressed optimism that a strong local and regional feed industry would reduce import dependence, create jobs, and strengthen food sovereignty across West Africa. “We hope the outcomes of this workshop will form the basis for a unified West African strategy that promotes the use of local resources and agricultural by-products,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to transforming the livestock sector, adding that the government is determined to build a system where farmers have access to high-quality feed, improved breeding stock, and the tools needed to compete in modern agriculture.