The National Assembly has expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the Federal Government’s “lip service” treatment of the livestock industry, nearly two years after the creation of a full-fledged Ministry of Livestock Development.
The lawmakers’ concerns arose as the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed that approximately 65 per cent of the animals consumed annually in Nigeria are imported, despite the country’s vast potential for red meat production and export, valued at ₦3.2 billion.
The criticism was made on Friday during a budget defence session between the ministry and the joint National Assembly Committee on Livestock Development.
In his presentation on the performance of the 2025 budget and proposals for 2026, the minister disclosed that funding for the ministry had been grossly inadequate since its establishment.
He told lawmakers that “out of N70bn approved as take-off fund for the Ministry in 2024, only N20bn has been released so far.”
Maiha added that despite the ₦10 billion appropriated as capital vote for the 2025 fiscal year, “nothing was given.”
The submission triggered sharp reactions from members of the committee, who described the development as inconsistent with the Federal Government’s avowed policy of economic diversification under President Bola Tinubu.
The committee, chaired by Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), resolved to draw the attention of President Tinubu to the situation and seek urgent intervention, stressing that livestock development remains critical to diversifying Nigeria’s economy, as seen in countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Belgium.
The Senate Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), said the poor funding of the ministry was at variance with the motive behind its creation.
“Establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the Nation’s economy.
“It is therefore to my surprise and disgust that we are paying lip service to the livestock sector now.
“We need to drum it into the ears of the Executive that it is inherently contradictory to create the Ministry and woefully failed to fund it”, he said.
Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) alleged possible sabotage, suggesting that the situation might not have been brought to the attention of the President.
“This is a Ministry that must be supported and well-funded by the federal government. I am suspecting sabotage of the zero capital allocation because Mr President meant well for the Livestock Development.
“The leadership of this committee should as a matter of urgent national importance write or meet Mr President for urgent intervention “, he said.
He urged the minister and top management staff of the ministry to openly communicate the challenges confronting the sector to enable lawmakers to amplify the issues to the appropriate authorities.
In his closing remarks, the committee chairman, Senator Buba Shehu, stressed that a mono-sector economy was unsustainable for any nation, reiterating the panel’s commitment to securing adequate funding for the livestock ministry to place Nigeria on a sustainable economic diversification path.
The PUNCH