The newly established Ministry of Livestock Development is set to create ranches in seven states across Nigeria in 2025 as part of its efforts to modernize livestock farming and address long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders.
According to details from the 2025 budget, ₦315 million has been earmarked for the establishment of ranches in Lagos and Ogun in the Southwest, Imo and Cross River in the Southeast and South-South zones, Adamawa and Taraba in the Northeast, and Kebbi in the Northwest.
In addition to ranching, ₦150 million has been allocated for poultry domestication farms in Delta, Abia, and Bauchi states. The total budget for the Ministry stands at ₦11.8b, with ₦1.8 billion allocated for overhead costs and ₦10 billion for capital projects.
To support livestock communities, ₦600m will fund solar-powered infrastructure in 30 federal constituencies, while ₦50m will be used to install solar-powered streetlights in grazing reserves.
A key focus of the ministry’s budget is addressing the decades-long conflict between farmers and herders. Approximately ₦86m has been dedicated to mitigating hostilities, including ₦85m for stakeholder engagements with governors, traditional rulers, and community leaders. Additionally, ₦101 million will fund the establishment of conflict resolution mechanisms at community, ward, local government, and state levels.
The Ministry also plans to implement a performance management system to track staff efficiency, with ₦97 million allocated for the initiative.
The creation of the Ministry in July 2024 followed the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee, which advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a specialized body to address the persistent tensions between farmers and herders. At its inauguration, the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee was tasked with providing sustainable solutions for Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The Ministry’s efforts align with its mandate to modernize livestock practices, improve food security, and foster peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities.
