Bilateral Meeting with The Honourable Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister for Livestock Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Rome - The Director-General met with The Honourable​Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister for Livestock Development​ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Second Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation and the Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators being held at FAO headquarters.  

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and appreciated the strong collaboration between FAO and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and recognized the important contribution of Nigeria towards FAO’s mandate. 

The Minister thanked the Director-General for the warm welcome and for the extensive support provided by FAO through various initiatives, including the FAO Hand in Hand Initiative. He indicated the government's intention to develop the livestock sector with the aim of moving it from traditional to modern, to enable job creation and achieve food security. The Minister further indicated that the government needed FAO's support in the development of the National Strategy to produce food and fodder, to develop livestock vaccines to control disease like PPR and FMD, amongst others. He further requested technical assistance with genetics to increase livestock production.  

The Minister further informed of the government's intention to make Nigeria Champions for the Eradication of PPR by 2035, and relied on FAO's support to achieve this objective, to enhance livestock resilience and to fight other diseases that impacted not only on animal health but on public health as well. He further informed that there were planned efforts by the government for the transformation of nomadic and pastoral practices for land management and environmental conservation. 

The Director-General reiterated FAO's commitment to continue to support Nigeria and commended the government's efforts to develop and improve the livestock sector. He encouraged Nigeria to also focus on improving animal husbandry, cash crops and aquaculture to enable the country to move from a lower-middle-income to middle income country. He emphasized the importance of private sector engagement to find lasting and sustainable solutions for diseases and pest control and eradication. He further encouraged the government to consider focusing on special priority products for each region or state as this would secure swifter outcomes. 

The Director-General also highlighted that due to its large size Nigeria could benefit from improved land use management policies and reaffirmed FAO’s support with the National Strategy Development. He further referred to the foreseen launch the FAO Transborder Disease Control Programme and encouraged Nigeria to join as this would enable the country to access sustainable resources for disease control. 

Rome - The Director-General met with The Honourable​Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister for Livestock Development​ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Second Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation and the Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators being held at FAO headquarters.  

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and appreciated the strong collaboration between FAO and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and recognized the important contribution of Nigeria towards FAO’s mandate. 

The Minister thanked the Director-General for the warm welcome and for the extensive support provided by FAO through various initiatives, including the FAO Hand in Hand Initiative. He indicated the government's intention to develop the livestock sector with the aim of moving it from traditional to modern, to enable job creation and achieve food security. The Minister further indicated that the government needed FAO's support in the development of the National Strategy to produce food and fodder, to develop livestock vaccines to control disease like PPR and FMD, amongst others. He further requested technical assistance with genetics to increase livestock production.  

The Minister further informed of the government's intention to make Nigeria Champions for the Eradication of PPR by 2035, and relied on FAO's support to achieve this objective, to enhance livestock resilience and to fight other diseases that impacted not only on animal health but on public health as well. He further informed that there were planned efforts by the government for the transformation of nomadic and pastoral practices for land management and environmental conservation. 

The Director-General reiterated FAO's commitment to continue to support Nigeria and commended the government's efforts to develop and improve the livestock sector. He encouraged Nigeria to also focus on improving animal husbandry, cash crops and aquaculture to enable the country to move from a lower-middle-income to middle income country. He emphasized the importance of private sector engagement to find lasting and sustainable solutions for diseases and pest control and eradication. He further encouraged the government to consider focusing on special priority products for each region or state as this would secure swifter outcomes. 

The Director-General also highlighted that due to its large size Nigeria could benefit from improved land use management policies and reaffirmed FAO’s support with the National Strategy Development. He further referred to the foreseen launch the FAO Transborder Disease Control Programme and encouraged Nigeria to join as this would enable the country to access sustainable resources for disease control.