FG flags off animal vaccination campaign, unveils livestock processing plans in Yobe

By Sunday Obi

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has rounded off a two-day working visit to Yobe with the flag-off of the 2026 annual animal vaccination campaign in the state.

Maiha also announced plans for the establishment of a large-scale modern abattoir in Damaturu to transform Yobe into a major livestock processing hub in Nigeria.

The minister, who commended the state government for its proactive approach to livestock development, said Yobe was among the first states to establish a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development following the creation of the Federal Ministry.

“Yobe State was among the first to establish a Ministry of Livestock Development following the President’s creation of the federal counterpart, and it is clear why.

“The infrastructure, vegetative resources and expertise here are second to none,” he said.

Maiha also described the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRESS) programme as one of the most vibrant agricultural initiatives currently operating in the country.

He said the vaccination campaign was aimed at protecting the state’s livestock population against disease outbreaks and reducing production losses.

The minister said the proposed abattoir would enable the state to process livestock locally, preserve meat through cold-chain facilities and introduce proper product labelling and certification.

According to him, the development will shift the state from the traditional export of live animals to the production and distribution of high-quality packaged meat to consumers across the country.

“This is about adding value, creating jobs and ensuring food security. Yobe has the volume and the vision.

“With this abattoir, we are not just herding cattle; we are building an industry,” Maiha said.

Earlier, the Yobe Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Goniri, said the state produced nearly 10 million livestock annually.

Goniri described Yobe as the largest livestock-producing state in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He said that since the establishment of the Livestock Productivity Centre in 2019, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the state government had committed billions of naira to providing facilities and inputs for livestock farmers.

According to him, the centre was established to address farmer-herder clashes and promote peaceful coexistence and improved livestock productivity.

“The core vision behind establishing this Livestock Productivity Centre is to prevent frequent clashes between herders and farmers, so that they can coexist peacefully and enhance livestock productivity in our dear state,” he said.

Goniri reaffirmed the commitment of the Gov. Mai Mala Buni administration to developing the livestock subsector and improving the livelihoods of the people.

“We remain fully committed to making livestock productivity one of the cardinal objectives of this government.

“We will continue to do our best to develop this subsector, with the positive impact of improving the livelihoods of our people and promoting food security,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Livestock, Dr Sunusi Abubakar, said the development of the Yobe centre was part of a broader national effort to strengthen livestock services.

Abubakar said Nigeria currently had seven livestock service centres across the country, located in Jakusko-Nasari in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Oyo, Niger and Taraba states.

He commended Hajiya Mairo Ahmed Amshi for her role in facilitating the establishment of the Yobe centre.

“When the opportunity came for the last service centre, I could not think of a better place than Yobe State.

“I know the composition of this area, what we have here, and the immense opportunities that exist,” he said.

He added that the facilities at the centre would serve the National Coordination Office as well as participating states.