The federal government and stakeholders from both local and international levels have agreed to effectively collaborate to strengthen and promote livestock sector across the country.

The stakeholders made the commitment at a stakeholders engagement meeting to discuss on upcoming Trade Fair and Exhibition and Annual Livestock Development Summit on Wednesday in Abuja.

The meeting was organised by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

Agabaidu Jideani, director-general of the ACCI, earlier said that the essence of the meeting was to collaborate with the stakeholders to strengthen the livestock sector.

Mr Jideani said that President Bola Tinubu had assured that all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, would be removed.

He said that the collaboration would strengthen and promote the sector, adding that they would help to achieve the mandate and objective of the administration.

According to him, we are committed to working with various stakeholders, both local and international, to achieve this goal.

“Our reason for today’s meeting is to discuss how we can promote the sector by gathering the stakeholders, hearing from them, exchanging our ideas and knowledge and putting them into practice.

“This effort will support us in moving the sector to a greater level. That is our reason for gathering people from different countries, government bodies and other relevant stakeholders from our country to share our views,” he said.

Mr Jideani also emphasised the Trade Fair and Exhibition, adding that it was an opportunity where investors from both states and other countries would showcase their talents and products to boost trading.

Sidi Ladan, chairman, Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, said that Mr Tinubu inaugurated the presidential committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms in 2024.

Mr Ladan said that the essence was to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain.

He said that the committee was drawn from the public and private sectors, state governors, and all Nigerians, to ensure that the sector was strengthened, as well as achieve the sector’s mandate.

Also, senior special assistant to the president on livestock development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, said that the collaboration with relevant stakeholders would support in achieving the mandate in the sector.

Mr Abiola-Ajimobi said that the president was committed to ensuring that the sector was reformed and improved effectively.

According to him, the president wants to ensure that the sector is strengthened, which is why he decided to inaugurate the committee.

“Livestock farming is a significant part of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and contributes notably to the country’s economy.

“The sector will boost agricultural productivity, enhance export opportunities and stimulate economic growth by fostering a robust value-chain that benefits farmers, processors, herders, distributors and consumers alike,’’ he said.

Stakeholders at the meeting involved delegates from Republic of Cuba, Kenya, Republic of Indonesia, Mexico, China, including ABIS Group, among others.

The stakeholders demonstrated interest in working with the government to ensure that the mandates and objectives of the sector were achieved effectively.

The stakeholders also commended the president, ACCI and others on their efforts to ensure that the sector was strengthened.

On the Abuja Trade Fair and Exhibition, which would be coming up on Sept. 25 to Oct 6, 2025, the stakeholders expressed their support and promised that the event would achieve positive results.

(NAN)