From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has said that the livestock sector of the economy is worth N33 trillion if properly harnessed.
Maiha stated this, yesterday, while briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Livestock Development on the activities of the ministry. He stated that the ministry has the potential to attract foreign investment into the country.
The minister, while stating that the various states have a lot of role to play in harnessing the potentials in the sector, called for the establishment of Ministries of Livestock Development by state governments.
“At the moment, we are taking stock of those state governments that have external ministry of livestock and fisheries. For state governments that have not created, they should give it effect and have a standing ministry for livestock, so there would be a seamless relationship between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the State Ministries of Livestock as the case may be.
“This sector is worth about N33 trillion once unbundled. Once unbundled, we have a huge opportunity to attract capital into the country, as well as have a lot of ranchers. At the moment, we have a lot of requests from Nigerian businessmen, who want to go into ranching and dairy activities.
“So, it is a question of settling down and unbundling this ministry, giving it to the formal sector so that it can be de-risked and people will know that beyond what everybody has been saying before the creation of this ministry, today, there is a strong political support from the Office of the President, and then, this Committee.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Wale Raji, while noting that the livestock development holds so much promise for the country, said the parliament would not shirk its oversight responsibilities.
Raji said: “The only regret is that the creation of the ministry is coming this late. But, our consolation is that it is better late than never. And with your wealth of experience as a technocrat and also a practicing farmer, we have no doubt that we have a round peg in a round hole. The whole essence would be towards the development and progress of the country.”