President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦120 billion agricultural development fund for Gombe State, signaling a bold move to transform Nigeria’s agro-livestock sector and drive food security, job creation, and rural economic empowerment.
The approval supports the Gombe State government’s Agro-Livestock Development Project, a cornerstone initiative under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria’s Livestock Industry Attracts International Attention-Jega
The announcement was made by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, during the groundbreaking ceremony for a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Development Zone in Gombe State.
FG to Revive Grazing Reserves to Support Pastoralists-Minister
He praised Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his visionary leadership and alignment with the Tinubu administration’s National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The planned facility will feature:
An ultramodern abattoir
An international cattle market
A tannery and leather processing hub
A dry inland port
It is projected to process:
500 bulls
1,000 small ruminants
3,000 poultry birds daily
Translating to over 1.6 million livestock processed annually.
“This is not just a Gombe milestone—it’s a national boost to Nigeria’s livestock value chain,” said Minister Maiha.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya confirmed that ₦60 billion of the federal allocation has already been accessed to begin infrastructure development at the site.
He emphasized that with over 80% of Gombe’s population engaged in agriculture and livestock, the project would restore the state’s role as a major hub for livestock and grain trade in northern Nigeria.
In addition to the livestock zone, the governor unveiled a ₦50 billion canalization initiative to divert water from River Gongola to the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve, benefiting over 1 million pastoralists directly and 5 million people indirectly.
As part of the livestock transformation plan, the Gombe State Government has introduced:
Mass vaccination campaigns
Formation of milk cooperatives
Installation of over 70 solar-powered boreholes
Upgrades to veterinary facilities
Governor Yahaya also disclosed that the ₦7.5 billion abattoir construction contract was awarded to Lubell Nigeria Ltd, with a nine-month completion target.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma, President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), commended Governor Yahaya for adopting conflict-resolution strategies, especially between farmers and herders, and revitalizing grazing reserves.
Mr. Barnabas Malle, Gombe’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and providing continuous support for livestock development.
The Gombe Agro-Livestock Development Project is expected to:
Create thousands of direct and indirect jobs
Stimulate industrial activity
Expand food processing capabilities
Strengthen regional and national food supply chains