Lawmakers Lament Poor Funding of Livestock Ministry, Seek Tinubu’s Intervention

The National Assembly has expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it termed inadequate funding of the Ministry of Livestock Development, nearly two years after its creation.

Lawmakers criticised the Federal Government’s approach to the livestock sector, describing it as mere lip service, during a budget defence session between the ministry and the joint National Assembly Committee on Livestock Development on [Day of the week].

The concerns were triggered by a presentation from the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, who disclosed that funding for the ministry has been grossly insufficient since its establishment.

Maiha revealed that out of the N70 billion approved as take-off fund for the ministry in 2024, only N20 billion had been released so far. He added that despite the N10 billion appropriated as capital vote for the 2025 fiscal year, nothing had been released.

The minister also disclosed that approximately 65 per cent of animals consumed annually in Nigeria are imported, despite the country’s potential for red meat production and exports valued at N3.2 billion.

Members of the committee described the development as inconsistent with President Bola Tinubu’s policy of economic diversification.

The committee chairman, Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), announced that the panel would draw the President’s attention to the situation and seek urgent intervention. He stressed that livestock development remains critical to diversifying Nigeria’s economy, citing examples from Brazil, Argentina, and Belgium.

Senate Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), expressed surprise and disappointment over the poor funding, noting that it contradicted the purpose behind the ministry’s creation.

“Establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the nation’s economy. It is therefore to my surprise and disgust that we are paying lip service to the livestock sector now,” he said.

“We need to drum it into the ears of the Executive that it is inherently contradictory to create the ministry and then woefully fail to fund it.”

Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) alleged possible sabotage, suggesting that the situation might not have been brought to the President’s attention.

“This is a ministry that must be supported and well-funded by the Federal Government. I am suspecting sabotage of the zero capital allocation because Mr President meant well for livestock development,” Ningi said.

He urged the minister and top management staff to openly communicate the challenges confronting the sector to enable lawmakers to amplify the issues to the appropriate authorities.

In his closing remarks, Senator Buba emphasised that a mono-sector economy was unsustainable for any nation. He reiterated the committee’s commitment to securing adequate funding for the livestock ministry to place Nigeria on a sustainable economic diversification path.

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