The House of Representatives has renewed its pledge to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector and address the lingering backlog of compensation owed to farmers whose poultry was hit by avian influenza.
At a public hearing on six livestock-related bills held on Thursday at the National Assembly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock Development, Hon. Wale Raji, said the proposed laws are designed to strengthen research, education, and capacity building across the livestock industry. The bills seek to establish new livestock colleges and research centers nationwide to support animal production and improve training in animal husbandry and veterinary sciences as outlined in the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
Hon. Raji noted that the public hearing was an opportunity for stakeholders to shape policies that can boost productivity, encourage livestock development, and create jobs. He also confirmed that the Committee is actively investigating the long-standing issue of unpaid compensation to farmers affected by previous bird flu outbreaks.
“We want to ensure fairness and accountability. Our goal is to produce outcomes that will genuinely strengthen livestock research, education, and policy implementation across the country,” he said.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin revealed that the government still owes ₦498.7 million to 307 verified poultry farmers whose birds were destroyed during avian influenza outbreaks between 2021 and 2023. He explained that although ₦3.16 billion had been paid to 1,055 farmers affected in earlier years, the recent batch remains unpaid due to funding shortages.
Dr. Adedoyin also disclosed that a new outbreak in Wukari, Taraba State, resulted in the depopulation of 2,050 birds, with compensation still being assessed.
He noted that compensation payments have been ongoing since 2006, with various phases amounting to ₦630.9 million, ₦674.2 million, ₦1.81 billion, and ₦47 million paid up to 2019. The current delay, according to him, is caused by inadequate funding and the lack of an Animal Diseases Contingency or Emergency Fund. He added that since 2021, there has been no dedicated emergency fund and many farmers do not have the insurance required by law.
A revised framework approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2022 now requires the Federal Government to cover 50 percent of compensation, states 25 percent, and farmers 25 percent. Only smallholder farmers with 3,000 birds or fewer qualify for this support, while larger commercial farms must have insurance coverage.
Speaking on one of the bills, Hon. Bello Ka’oje said the proposed establishment of the Federal College of Animal Husbandry in Ka’oje would create a specialized institution dedicated to high-quality training, research, and innovation in animal production. He described the town as a strategic choice because of its strong livestock farming culture.
He emphasized that Nigeria still lags behind other African countries in livestock production despite its enormous potential. Citing 2022 global rankings, he noted that Nigeria currently places 94th in milk production and 33rd in meat production, behind Egypt, Kenya, and Ethiopia. He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to support the bill, stressing that livestock development is crucial for economic diversification and rural development.
The public hearing brought together government officials, livestock experts, farmers, and policymakers who all expressed hope that the new bills will help unlock the sector’s full potential and provide overdue support to affected farmers.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
