The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening livestock research and productivity in Nigeria.
The reaffirmation followed the inauguration of key infrastructure at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria.
The facilities were inaugurated by the Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, during a ceremony held in Zaria.
Speaking at the event, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRESS, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, said the newly inaugurated facilities represent a significant boost to institutional capacity and innovation within Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Abubakar explained that the interventions were implemented under Component One of the L-PRESS Project, which focuses on strengthening institutions and innovation systems.
According to him, L-PRESS support to NAPRI includes the construction of a modern hay barn, a fully equipped pasture seed processing unit with storage facilities, and solar-powered boreholes fitted with water troughs to enhance forage production and livestock nutrition.
He noted that NAPRI, as Nigeria’s foremost livestock research institute, plays a strategic role in research, policy support and technology development for sustainable animal production.
Abubakar further disclosed that the project had awarded a contract for the upgrade of NAPRI’s Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Unit, including paddock rehabilitation for breed multiplication.
Other interventions include the renovation of the bull stud and semen collection parlour, construction of a liquid nitrogen house, and the upgrade of the Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Laboratory.
The coordinator revealed that the World Bank, during its recent implementation support mission in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, rated the L-PRESS project as satisfactory, noting its strong potential for additional financing and project extension.
As a result, additional interventions have been approved for NAPRI, including the upgrade of dairy facilities, improvement of Shika Brown layer chicken production, and the selection of a broiler strain, among others.
He added that the World Bank had also approved the provision of solar-powered boreholes across selected gazetted grazing reserves nationwide to address water scarcity and reduce conflict drivers.
In his remarks, the minister said the interventions were delivered through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described the facilities as strategic investments aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in feed availability, pasture development and water access for livestock research and production.
“Feed and pasture development remain critical to improving livestock productivity in Nigeria.
“These facilities are designed to support NAPRI in delivering practical, demand-driven solutions that will strengthen animal production systems and enhance food security,” Maiha said.
He, therefore, charged NAPRI to maximize the opportunities provided by the new facilities and deepen its role as a centre of excellence for livestock research, innovation and technology dissemination.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof. Adamu Ahmed, pledged the university’s support for the minister’s vision, noting that NAPRI remains central to national efforts to modernize livestock production, address climate challenges and strengthen food systems.
