By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has announced plans to regulate Nigeria’s donkey trade and clamp down on illegal activities in the sector to boost livestock development and support rural livelihoods.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar
Maiha, disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with the National Association of Donkey Farmers of Nigeria.
He said the government would collaborate with farmers to improve funding, tackle key challenges, and end long-standing illegal trading practices.
Maiha emphasized the importance of donkeys to rural economies, noting their role in transportation and smallholder agriculture.
He added that stakeholders would be engaged to better understand sectoral issues, including diseases affecting local donkey breeds, and to develop research and investment guidelines for breeding, processing, and export.
The minister also revealed that existing laws are being reviewed to address illicit trade in some markets where illegal sales have persisted for up to two decades.
Earlier, the association’s president, Abubakar Kagu, warned that Nigeria’s donkey population is declining due to unchecked slaughter, illegal trade, and the absence of structured breeding and conservation programmes.
He called for clear policies and the establishment of breeding centres to protect the species and unlock economic opportunities in the sector.
