FG to Establish Cattle Breeding Centres Across Six Geo-Political Zones — Minister

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish cattle breeding centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to modernise livestock production and enhance food security.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s drive to revitalise the agricultural sector.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, gave further insight into the plan during the second day of the Citizens-Government Engagement and Midterm Assessment of the Tinubu administration, held in Kaduna and organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.

According to Abdullahi, the cattle breeding centres would serve as modern livestock hubs designed to transform the traditional livestock system into a structured and economically viable enterprise. He emphasised the importance of collaboration among relevant ministries for the success of the project.

“The synergy and collaboration of the ministries of agriculture, environment, water resources, livestock development, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are imperative for delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister stated.

He said the new approach is aimed at curbing recurring conflicts between herders and farmers, increasing meat and dairy output, and strengthening the country’s food sufficiency efforts.

The initiative echoes concerns raised earlier in April by the National Economic Council (NEC), which described the current livestock rearing practices in Nigeria as outdated and unsustainable. The council had called for a rapid transition to modern animal husbandry.

Speaking to State House Correspondents after the NEC meeting, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State said, “Council emphasised the fact that we cannot continue to live in the past, and we must now work towards modernising livestock production in Nigeria.”

The move comes amid escalating security concerns in parts of the country—such as Plateau, Benue, and Kwara—where deadly attacks linked to herder-farmer clashes have claimed many lives.