By Igbekele Ologun. 

Nigeria’s livestock sector is set for a major transformation as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to reposition the industry as a critical driver of economic growth, food security and employment generation.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, made this known at the inauguration of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Model Veterinary Hospital in Ondo, Ondo State.

The initiative represents another significant milestone in the partnership between the Federal Government, Ondo State Government and other stakeholders towards building a more productive, resilient and economically viable livestock sector.

Among the projects inaugurated included the Model Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Market in Ondo, an Artificial Insemination and Breed Improvement Centre in Akure, as well as solar-powered boreholes with a combined water storage capacity of fifty thousand litres in Ile-Oluji and Akure.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, described the facilities as strategic investments designed to strengthen animal healthcare, improve disease prevention, enhance livestock productivity and expand the economic opportunities available to farmers.

He explained that the Federal Government was committed to repositioning livestock development as a major contributor to national prosperity, adding that similar interventions would be extended to all thirty-six states of the federation.

Representing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, called on livestock farmers to take full advantage of the newly established facilities to improve their operations and increase productivity.

Akinola described the intervention as a reflection of the positive results achievable through effective collaboration between the Federal Government, state government and relevant stakeholders.

He stressed that the state government remained committed to initiatives that would strengthen agricultural development, create employment and improve the livelihoods of residents.

The National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, also charged residents of the host communities to take ownership of the facilities, safeguard the investments and ensure their continued maintenance for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, alongside other critical stakeholders, hailed the projects as timely interventions capable of improving hygienic meat production, strengthening livestock businesses and promoting the socio-economic well-being of the people.

With the projects strategically distributed across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State, stakeholders anticipate improved access to veterinary healthcare, quality animal breeding services, organised livestock markets and reliable water supply for farmers.

Beyond the immediate benefits to livestock farmers, the L-PRES intervention is expected to stimulate investment, create employment opportunities, strengthen food security and open new economic frontiers in the livestock value chain.