The House of Representatives has inaugurated the House Committee on Livestock Development.
The new committee on Livestock Development was formed following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Chairman of the committee who performed the inauguration, Mr. Wale Raji, said that it is unfortunate that the livestock sector has not received the due attention by successive administrations despite its huge potential and contribution to our economy.
” The annual production in the livestock sector is estimated at 563 million chickens, 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 60 million sheep and 16 million pigs. While this put Nigeria as the leading livestock producer in West Africa, we are far from meeting our consumption needs resulting in expenditure of huge amounts of foreign exchange on importation of livestock products that could be easily produced in the country” he said.
He noted that Nigeria stands at the precipice of extraordinary opportunity.
” The livestock sector is ripe for transformation, offering pathways to food security, economic diversification, and wealth creation. As we begin our work, it is our responsibility and privilege to be part of the pioneering effort at repositioning this sector for a future of prosperity and sustainability.
Our mandate, as approved by the Speaker, encompasses the general oversight of the Ministry responsible for Livestock Development. This includes its departments, parastatals, agencies, colleges, and research institutes, as detailed in the reports of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee co-chaired by Mr. President.
We have a wide scope to ensure the effective and impactful development of this sector, and it is crucial that we execute our duties with diligence, transparency, and commitment to excellence” he said.
