By Abbas Nazil
The Jigawa State Government has invested about N3.1 billion in artificial insemination programmes to improve cattle breeds, increase milk production and strengthen the livelihoods of pastoral communities as part of efforts to modernise livestock farming and improve food security.
Governor Malam Umar Namadi disclosed this on Friday, October 17, 2026, during a livestock stakeholders’ engagement at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, organised by the Fulani community under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Hadejia.
Namadi said the investment, made over the past two to three years, was aimed at improving cattle productivity and transforming traditional pastoralism into a more productive, resilient and commercially viable livestock system.
He explained that the state government was implementing a comprehensive livestock development programme that combines breed improvement with better access to grazing land, water, animal feed and veterinary services.
According to the governor, the administration is working to gazette and demarcate additional grazing reserves to provide herders with designated areas for livestock production and reduce pressure on available land.
The government is also promoting alfalfa cultivation to improve dry-season feed supplies and establish watering stations to ensure livestock have access to water during periods of scarcity.
Namadi said the state was implementing mass vaccination campaigns to control transboundary animal diseases, protect livestock health and reduce losses among pastoral communities.
Other interventions include providing water, animal feed, healthcare and educational services for herding communities.
The governor said the measures were particularly important as Jigawa faces environmental challenges associated with desertification, shrinking pasture and water scarcity, which can intensify competition between farmers and herders.
He stressed that peaceful coexistence between the two groups remained essential for environmental security and stability, adding that providing basic infrastructure and essential services could help reduce disputes over natural resources.
At the event, Alhaji Shehu Hadejia commended the state government for establishing a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development, describing the move as a significant step towards improving animal productivity, veterinary care and relations between farmers and herders.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Salim Mohammed, said the ministry had undertaken measures to demarcate grazing reserves, conduct vaccination campaigns and sensitise communities on peaceful coexistence since its establishment.
Mohammed explained that the initiatives aligned with the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which seeks to modernise livestock management, improve productivity and strengthen the sector’s resilience to climate-related challenges.
Nigeria’s livestock sector supports millions of livelihoods but continues to face constraints, including inadequate feed, animal diseases, low productivity and limited access to essential services.
Improving livestock breeds, expanding veterinary services and securing reliable sources of water and feed could help address these challenges while supporting pastoral livelihoods and strengthening the country’s food supply.
The Jigawa government’s investment in artificial insemination and complementary livestock infrastructure therefore forms part of a broader effort to shift the sector towards more productive and sustainable animal husbandry.
The Fulani community also used the gathering to declare support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Namadi and All Progressives Congress candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, citing the state government’s livestock development initiatives as part of the reasons for its endorsement.
