Nigeria has intensified efforts to position its livestock sector to access global climate finance as part of its broader strategy to drive sustainable livestock development, enhance food security, create jobs, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this today while receiving a delegation from the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Abuja.
The Minister said climate change remains one of the greatest threats to livestock production and rural livelihoods, stressing that Nigeria must take deliberate steps to build resilience within the sector while taking advantage of available international climate funding opportunities.
Drawing from over two decades of experience as a livestock farmer, Maiha noted that the effects of climate change are already evident across the country, including declining water availability, changing rainfall patterns, increased heat stress on livestock, and shrinking pasture resources.
He said: “There is no doubt that climate change is real. The changes are visible in our rivers, grazing lands, water tables, and livestock production systems. As a nation, we must act responsibly to protect the environment while transforming our livestock sector into a modern, climate-smart industry.”
He explained that the Ministry is pursuing the rehabilitation of grazing reserves, expansion of fodder cultivation, improved rangeland management, adoption of renewable energy solutions, and the promotion of settled livestock production systems as part of efforts to reduce environmental degradation and improve productivity.
He further reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to collaborating with local and international partners to develop bankable projects capable of attracting climate finance for livestock development.
Earlier, the Director of Technical Services at AGNES, Dr. David Olufemi Awolala, informed the Minister that AGNES, with support from GIZ, is working with the Ministry’s Technical Working Group on Climate Change to develop investment-ready proposals in feeds and fodder development, livestock value chain enhancement, and animal health systems.
He noted that the proposals are targeted at attracting funding from major international climate financing windows, including the Green Climate Fund, African Development Bank, and other global climate investment facilities.
The delegation also briefed the Minister on plans to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to access climate finance and implement sustainable livestock development initiatives that align with Nigeria’s climate commitments and development priorities.
Henrietta Okokon, the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations in the ministry, said in a press statement that the meeting had in attendance senior officials of the Ministry, other representatives of AGNES, Mr. Adeoye Adekunle Afees of GIZ, as well as members of the Ministry’s Technical Working Group on Climate Change, led by Dr. Peter Alike.
