Yobe State produces nearly 10 million livestock annually, Governor Mai Mala Buni has said, as the Federal Government plans to establish a modern large-scale abattoir in Damaturu to boost livestock processing and create jobs.
Buni disclosed this on Saturday while flagging off the distribution of livestock vaccines and commissioning facilities at the Livestock Service Centre in Nasari Grazing Reserve, Jakusko Local Government Area.
Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ali Mustapha Goniri, the governor said Yobe had invested billions of naira in livestock infrastructure and inputs since the establishment of the grazing reserve in 2019, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
He said the livestock service centre was established to improve productivity, reduce farmer-herder conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence among communities.
“We remain fully committed to making livestock productivity one of the cardinal objectives of this administration,” Buni said.
The governor added that the state would continue investing in livestock development to improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commended Yobe for its investment in the sector, describing the state as a model for livestock development.
Maiha said Yobe was among the first states to establish a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development following President Bola Tinubu’s creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
He announced plans to establish a modern large-scale abattoir in Damaturu to support livestock processing, cold-chain preservation, labelling and certification.
According to him, the facility would enable Yobe to move from exporting live animals to supplying processed and packaged meat across Nigeria.
“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.
The National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Programme, Sunusi Abubakar, said Nigeria currently had seven livestock service centres across Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Oyo, Niger and Taraba states.
He said Yobe was selected as one of the host states because of its livestock resources and development potential.
The State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Adama Hussaini Madaki, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving livestock productivity and resilience across its 17 local government areas.
The commissioning formed part of ongoing Federal Government efforts to strengthen partnerships with states, expand livestock production, create jobs, improve food security and promote value addition in the sector.
