Over 50 Million Nigerian Cattle Are Starving — Livestock Minister Declares National Emergency

• Nigeria’s Livestock Minister, Idi Maiha, has raised alarm that over 50 million cattle across the country are not properly fed, warning that the crisis poses a direct threat to national survival.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has declared that Nigeria is facing a severe livestock feeding crisis, revealing that over 50 million cattle across rural communities are not adequately fed — a situation he described as a national emergency.

Maiha raised the alarm on Friday at the opening of a two-day Policy Dialogue Workshop for the valuation of PRISMA project results in the Regional Agricultural Priorities of West Africa and the Sahel, organised by the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food under ECOWAS.

According to him, livestock feeding is directly tied to Nigeria’s economic stability, rural livelihood and long-term peace.

He said: “In Nigeria, we have over 50 million cattle in the hands of rural dwellers, and these animals must be fed. Feeding and food are national imperatives we cannot postpone. It is an emergency because not providing feed has a direct effect on our existence, rural livelihood and human peace. For us, it is a matter of survival.”

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Represented by the Director, Technical Office of the Permanent Secretary, Peter Alike, the minister revealed that the ministry has designed a 2025–2030 strategic plan, projecting that livestock’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP — currently about $32 billion — could rise to over $94 billion in the next 10 years if the sector is properly developed.

Maiha praised President Bola Tinubu for creating a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development, stressing that regional agricultural projects cannot succeed without Nigeria’s participation.

“If you have a project of this magnitude and you exclude Nigeria, you are not likely to succeed. No other country in West Africa and the Sahel has a dedicated livestock ministry,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s collaboration with ECOWAS and other stakeholders remains crucial to achieving food security across the region.