Nigeria, India Deepen Cooperation to Transform Livestock Sector

By Onifade Samuel;

Nigeria and India are set to deepen bilateral cooperation in the livestock sector, with both countries exploring opportunities in dairy production, animal breeding, veterinary services, meat processing and technology-driven livestock development.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made this known during an engagement with the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry.

The engagement focused on strengthening technical and institutional cooperation between both countries and leveraging India’s experience in livestock production and allied industries to improve productivity and develop Nigeria’s livestock value chains.

According to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nigeria is particularly interested in cooperation covering dairy production, improved livestock genetics, artificial insemination, feed development, veterinary services, meat processing and market access.

Maiha said India’s experience in livestock production, dairy development, breeding, processing and animal health offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the government works to unlock the economic potential of the sector.

He also stressed the importance of practical knowledge exchange and technical capacity building, noting that stronger cooperation could help develop local expertise and improve productivity across Nigeria’s livestock industry.

The minister further identified opportunities for Nigeria to learn from India’s experience in dairy processing, livestock breeding, veterinary systems, food safety and access to international markets.

On his part, the Indian High Commissioner, Abhishek Singh, expressed India’s readiness to deepen technical and institutional cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in areas where the country has developed significant expertise.

The proposed partnership comes as Nigeria seeks to build a more productive and commercially viable livestock sector capable of contributing more significantly to food security, employment and economic growth.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development said the collaboration is expected to support the government’s broader efforts to transform the sector through strategic international partnerships, technology transfer, capacity development and investment.

The livestock sector remains an important component of Nigeria’s agricultural economy, with opportunities spanning animal production, dairy, meat processing, animal health, feed production and other related value chains.

For Nigeria, stronger collaboration with India could provide access to technical expertise and proven approaches that can be adapted to local conditions, while creating opportunities for investment and knowledge transfer.

The Federal Government is also positioning the partnership within the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of food security, job creation, investment and economic diversification.

The renewed engagement between Nigeria and India therefore signals a push towards a more technology-driven and commercially oriented livestock industry, with both countries looking to translate bilateral relations into practical benefits for farmers, investors and the wider Nigerian economy.