Livestock Devt Commissioner: Kwara Positions to Benefit from Nigeria’s $70bn Livestock Economy

The Kwara State Government announced yesterday a set of ambitious initiatives aimed at establishing the state as a key player in Nigeria’s livestock sector, which is expected to expand from roughly $32 billion to more than $70 billion in the coming years.

Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, presented the plans during her keynote address at the 2026 Press Week hosted by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara State Council.

Under the theme “Livestock Development in a Changing Economy: Innovation, Opportunities and the Role of Strategic Communication in National Growth,” Thomas highlighted livestock as one of the most promising sectors for driving economic transformation, industrialisation and job creation in Nigeria.

She explained that the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is deliberately moving beyond subsistence animal production toward a fully commercialised and industrialised livestock economy through targeted investments and policy reforms.

The government’s objectives include boosting productivity, strengthening livestock value chains, attracting private investment, reducing imports, and positioning Nigeria competitively in the global livestock market.

Thomas cited projects such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) as key drivers of this commercialisation effort.

The SAPZ initiative is set to provide essential infrastructure—roads, power, cold storage facilities, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, artificial insemination centres, cargo facilities, and residential accommodation—to support investors and processors.

“This is not accidental. It reflects leadership, foresight and a clear understanding that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in productive sectors capable of generating sustainable wealth and employment,” she said.

Earlier, Biola Azeez, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, welcomed attendees and described the chapel as Kwara’s elite reportorial hub, noting its long-standing tradition of professional journalism.

Azeez added that members of the chapel work across national and international media organisations, playing critical roles in shaping public discourse and development reporting.