The Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha says the livestock sector can add N33 trillion to the economy if well harnessed.
Maiha made this known at a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Livestock Development, on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that Nigerian businessmen had already indicated interest to go into ranching and dairy farming.
The minister also urged state governments to emulate President Bola Tinubu and create Ministries of Livestock at the sun regional level, for coordination with the centre.
“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.
“It is a question of settling down and unbundling this ministry, getting into the formal sector so that it can be derisked,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Wale Raji (APC-Lagos State), said that the transformation of the livestock sector of the country held a lot of opportunities for job and wealth creation.
Raji said that the sector had the potential to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country.
He said the committee understood the urgency of the mandate of the ministry, hence, pledging commitment to partner with the ministry to ensure speedy achievement of target.
Raji said that though the committee was willing to support the ministry, it would not compromise the principles of legislative oversight function.
“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.
“With your wealth of experience as a technocrat and also a practicing farmer, we have no doubt that we have a round peg in round hole.
“The whole essence would be towards the development and progress of the country,” he said.
NAN
