THE Federal Government has lauded Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his visionary strides in livestock development, noting that his initiatives are in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Livestock Transformation Agenda under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The commendation was delivered by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the official groundbreaking ceremony for the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Development Zone held on Saturday in Gombe.
The project, a cornerstone of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s vision for agro-industrial transformation, features an ultramodern abattoir, an international cattle market, a tannery, leather processing facilities, and a dry inland port designed to connect processed livestock and grain products to local and international markets.
The minister noted that establishment of the Afro-Livestock Development Zone is a strategic step to enhance animal processing capacity not only for the Northeast, but Nigeria at large.
“I am delighted to witness this historic milestone in Gombe state. It is indeed another indelible footprint of the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.This feat is in total alignment with the actualization of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a strategic step towards improving our animal processing for local and international consumption.
This massive investment, which will process 500 bulls, 1,000 small ruminants and 3,000 poultry birth daily, translating into 182,500 bulls, 365 goats and sheep, 1,095,000 poultry in a year. This is a game-changer in the Northeast and indeed in Nigeria”, the Minister added.
While applauding the Governor,Alhaji Maiha said, “Your Excellency, Mr. Governor, you have shown how it is going to be done. Other governors can only emulate from you. You deserve an accolade for achieving this great feat.”
In his address, Governor Inuwa Yahaya described the initiative as a “historic turning point” for the agro-livestock economy.
“Today’s ceremony demonstrates our firm commitment to transforming Gombe State’s agricultural and livestock sectors, thus unlocking new levels of productivity, prosperity, and opportunity for our people. Today’s ground-breaking event is a bold step towards building a prosperous and sustainable future in our livestock development”, the Governor stated.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that over 80% of the population of Gombe is engaged in agriculture and livestock, and that the project aims to reverse the decline of the state’s historical prominence as a regional hub for grains and livestock trading, once led by visionary figures such as Sarki Haruna in the 1920s.
He added that the Agro-Livestock Zone is the culmination of years of strategic investment and reform, including mass livestock vaccination programmes, establishment of milk cooperatives, drilling of over 70 solar-powered boreholes, re-demarcation of grazing reserves under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience (L-PRES) project, and improved veterinary infrastructure.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya used the occasion to announce an ambitious N50 billion water canalization project from River Gongola to the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve which is expected to benefit over one million pastoralists directly and over five million people indirectly.
“In 2022, through a strategic partnership with the USAID-supported Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity and Messrs Mercy Corps, we undertook a comprehensive technical and feasibility study for water canalization from River Gongola into Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve.
The proposed 36 km canal will address longstanding water scarcity challenges and directly support over 1,000,000 pastoralists, while indirectly benefiting more than 5 million people.
The project, which is designed and estimated at over N50 billion, is expected to enhance climate resilience, food security, and sustainable livestock production”, the Governor announced.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the sum of N120 billion to support the implementation of key agricultural initiatives, including the ambitious Agro-Livestock Development Project.
He disclosed that the state has already accessed N60 billion from the approved funds, which will be deployed to fast-track the development of critical infrastructure within the zone, noting that the Federal Government’s intervention not only reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda but also demonstrates a strategic partnership between the federal and state governments to boost food security, create jobs, and promote sustainable economic growth through the livestock value chain.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya also announced that the contract for the ultramodern abattoir, designed to serve both domestic and international meat markets, has been awarded at N7.5 billion to Lubell Nigeria Limited, with a project completion timeline of nine months, and charged the contractor to deliver according to global best standards.
Speaking at the event, the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma, commended Governor Inuwa’s inclusive approach, especially his efforts in fostering peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders through dispute resolution committees, infrastructure development, and grazing reserve revitalization, assuring the Governor that the initiative will support his members and improve their business.
The Emir of Gombe, HRH. Alh. (Dr.) Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, CFR, commended the Governor for his foresight and progressive leadership, assuring his continued support to initiatives like this, while urging the citizens of Gombe especially the immediate beneficiaries of the project to take its full ownership and ensure its effective utilization for the good of the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Mr. Barnabas Malle, stated that since the inception of the Inuwa Yahaya led administration, his ministry has been receiving the necessary support from the Governor to implement programmes and policies that transform the agriculture and livestock development in the state.
Highlight of the event was the symbolic foundation laying for the construction of the Ultramodern Abattoir jointly performed by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya, as well as planting of trees.
