Creation of livestock development ministry will boost Nigerian economy, reduce insecurity – NILEST DG
By Abdul Hassan
October 06, 2024
The Director-General,Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology, Prof. Mohammed Yakubu says the creation of ministry for livestock development will boost the Nigerian economy and reduce insecurity.
The DG described the decision to create the ministry as announced by President Bola Tinubu as one of the best taken to reposition the Nigerian economy by the present administration.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Ngeria on Saturday in Abuja that
Nigeria would gain huge benefits from the establishment of the ministry, and ensure proper exploitation of the huge potential of the industry.
“The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development is a welcome development and we have to thank President Bola Tinubu for this foresight, because it is going to solve many problems and kill two birds with one stone. The issue of banditry and farmers-herders clashes will be addressed by this singular commitment by Mr President,” he said.
According to him, the ministry will help to maximise the exploitation of the value chain in the livestock sub-sector, thereby enhancing the flow of foreign exchange and providing job opportunities to many skilled artisans.
“When the President made the statement, I thought our problem has been solved, because the development of the value chain begins with animal husbandry, and the best way to rear an animal to get hides and skin of the best quality can only be achieved if we have a ministry that looks into that from the area of science and technology.
“The moment this ministry comes on board, NILEST is going to partner with them, we are going to collaborate a lot.
Hides and skin is a core product of the meat industry, representing about 15 percent of the value of the entire animal. In Nigeria as it is now, by the time you get the outer part of the animal and you work it up, you will sell it at a price which is almost 20 to 30 percent of the entire cost of the animal.
“I believe if we develop this sub-sector of the economy, the leather value chain will play a greater part. We are interested on how the animal is reared, at what age do we get the best hides and skin. So, there must be a department in that ministry which will look into this aspect,” the NILEST director general said.
According to him, the leather industry alone currently generates more than 3 billion dollars and has very huge potential for growth.
Mohammed urged stakeholders and all Nigerians to support the government to ensure proper take-off of the ministry for the overall benefit of the country.(NAN)