The Federal Government says it has built 21 model veterinary hospitals in 21 states to strengthen food security, improve animal health and boost livestock productivity.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, disclosed this on Friday while inaugurating one of the hospitals in Ondo Town, Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Maiha said the hospitals were intended to reposition Nigeria’s livestock sector as a key driver of economic growth, food security, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
He said they were constructed and equipped through the World Bank-supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
“These hospitals are dear to President Tinubu, with plans to extend similar interventions to the remaining 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Very soon, every local government will have one fully functional veterinary clinic.
“Mr President’s directive is that veterinary services should reach farmers, anticipate their needs and not the other way around.
“We are conscious of this, and we are bringing these facilities to the last mile.
“Our vision is to ensure that veterinary services are not confined to government facilities, but are accessible to farmers wherever production and commercial activities take place,” Maiha said.
The minister urged state governments to strengthen their veterinary workforce by recruiting and deploying more veterinarians and other professionals.
“Today, we have one veterinary doctor for every 10,000 animals. That is not acceptable. We must reduce the number.
“We want good meat. We want healthy meat. We also want to access the international red meat market. We must reduce our disease burden and control all zoonotic diseases,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, said the facilities were designed to expand access to quality veterinary services and bring professional animal healthcare closer to livestock farmers.
Abubakar said the project was coordinated by national and state project coordination offices to improve livestock production, healthcare and marketing.
“The modern livestock market is a strategic investment in the value chain, and the facilities will create economic opportunities for farmers, transporters and processors,” he said.
Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State commended the Federal Government, saying the project demonstrated federal-state collaboration to transform the livestock sector.
Represented by Leye Akinola, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Aiyedatiwa urged farmers, traders and other stakeholders to make full use of the hospital and the modern livestock market inaugurated alongside it.
He said the facility would increase commercial activity, improve access to markets and create opportunities for livestock farmers, bringing greater economic benefits to the host community and the state.
Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, also commended the Federal Government for establishing the hospital in the town. He pledged to support its maintenance and help fulfil the government’s objectives.
The minister also inaugurated several L-PRES projects in the state, including the L-PRES Artificial Insemination Centre in Akure.
Other projects included a 50,000-litre solar-powered borehole with a water trough at Asejere Farm Settlement in Ile-Oluji Local Government Area.
Phase One and Phase Two of a 50,000-litre solar-powered borehole and water trough at Adofure Pig Cluster in Akure were also inaugurated.
