By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Government has announced a strategic partnership with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to tackle climate change challenges threatening Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The collaboration was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere-Ijeoma Akujobi, during a meeting with representatives of both financial institutions in Abuja.
She said the partnership is designed to unlock opportunities for sustainable growth, strengthen resilience and promote environmentally responsible practices across the livestock value chain.
According to Akujobi, the initiative aligns with the ministry’s mandate to mitigate climate impacts on livestock production while safeguarding livelihoods that depend on the sector.
She highlighted the sector’s vital role in Nigeria’s economy but warned that it remains highly vulnerable to climate variability and extreme weather conditions.
The permanent secretary noted that rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and environmental stress are already affecting animal health, productivity and greenhouse gas emissions.
Representing her at the meeting, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Ohaeri Ezenwa, emphasized the need for strategic interventions to protect the industry from worsening climate risks.
The Director of Technical Services and Team Lead of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change, Dr Alike Peter, stressed that strong policies supported by reliable data are essential for climate-smart livestock development.
He explained that evidence-based planning would enable coordinated national action to reduce emissions while improving productivity and sustainability.
Dr Peter revealed that the Technical Working Group supports the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which aims to increase the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s gross domestic product from about 32 billion dollars to 74 billion dollars within ten years.
He added that both projected growth pathways have direct implications for greenhouse gas emissions, making climate considerations central to development planning.
The ministry is also working with the World Bank to establish a national methane emissions baseline and develop mitigation measures informed by scientific evidence.
These efforts, he said, are intended to strengthen Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions under global climate agreements and open access to carbon markets.
World Bank Group representative, Dr Harrison Charo Karisa, pointed to opportunities in climate-smart aquaculture, the blue economy and carbon financing mechanisms.
He noted that innovations such as seaweed could serve as nutritious livestock feed supplements while also contributing to emission reduction.
Meanwhile, AfDB’s Chief Livestock Officer, Dr Youssouf Kabore, praised the ministry’s proactive approach and assured continued support for practical climate interventions in the sector.
The partnership is expected to position Nigeria’s livestock industry on a more sustainable path while boosting economic resilience and environmental responsibility.
