Nigeria’s Livestock Population Hits 58m Cattle, 124m Goats, 70m Sheep – Minister

Nigeria has an estimated 58 million cattle, 124 million goats and 70 million sheep, among other livestock, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has disclosed, as stakeholders in the sector pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The minister, who gave the figures in Kaduna, said the country also had 9.3 million pigs, 3.2 million donkeys, 700,000 camels and 300 million birds, describing the livestock sector as one with enormous potential for economic growth, wealth creation and employment.

Maiha, however, identified inadequate veterinary services, limited access to pasture and water, high feed costs, poor market infrastructure and low productivity as major challenges preventing the country from fully harnessing the sector’s potential.

He said the Federal Government was implementing policies to address the challenges by improving animal health, breeding, feed production, dairy farming, and meat processing.

The minister disclosed that seven veterinary hospitals had been completed and equipped under a World Bank-supported programme, while additional facilities were at various stages of completion.

He added that the government planned to expand veterinary services across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with primary veterinary facilities also planned for the 774 local government areas.

Maiha urged pastoralists, livestock farmers, dealers and other operators to take advantage of the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to expand their businesses, improve productivity and create wealth.

He also challenged livestock associations to collaborate with the ministry and state governments within three months to identify challenges confronting their members and develop practical proposals for investment and improved service delivery.

The minister called for peaceful coexistence between pastoralists and farming communities, stressing that dialogue and responsible management of land and water resources were essential to sustainable livestock development.

Meanwhile, livestock stakeholders across the country have pledged to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a major achievement that has restored hope to a sector they said suffered decades of neglect.

The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said the creation of the ministry in July 2024 fulfilled a longstanding demand by pastoralists, cattle breeders and other livestock operators for dedicated government attention.

Ngelzarma spoke at a gathering in Kaduna organised by the Fulbe APC Forum and Tinubu Yeso-Yeso Political Forum (TYPF), in collaboration with the Coalition of Pastoralists and Traders Associations and the Amalgamated Union of Livestock Dealers, Butchers and other stakeholders, under the theme, “United for Inclusion, Representation and Prosperity.”

He said the stakeholders gathered to appreciate the Tinubu administration for responding to their decades-long agitation for a ministry dedicated to livestock development.

“We are here today to extend our appreciation and support to the administration of President Tinubu.

“The creation of the livestock ministry is something we have been advocating for and looking forward to for decades,” he said.

Ngelzarma added that the initiative had encouraged some state governments to establish similar institutions to coordinate livestock development, describing it as a reason for sector stakeholders to rally behind Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, said the state was complementing the Federal Government’s initiative with increased investments in livestock infrastructure and services.

Dabo disclosed that the state’s budgetary allocation to livestock development had risen from N1.48 billion in 2023 to more than N100 billion in 2026.

He said the state government had also provided solar-powered water facilities in pastoralist communities and expanded vaccination and artificial insemination services.

According to him, improved feeding and breeding practices have increased milk production in some cattle from about 1.5 litres to between 3 and 4 litres.

He added that the state government was upgrading slaughter facilities and improving infrastructure across the livestock value chain.