Nigeria has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Government of Germany to develop grazing facilities across rural communities as part of a broader initiative to enhance livestock production and promote sustainable agricultural practices nationwide.
The agreement was finalized during a meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Yola, and a delegation led by Karin Jansen, First Secretary and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
According to the minister, the proposed grazing facilities will include key infrastructure such as fodder production units, micro earth dams, and boreholes, aimed at supporting all-year-round grazing.
The facilities are designed to improve pasture management, breed quality, and overall livestock productivity in targeted communities.
“This partnership aligns with our national objective to transition from nomadic herding to a more sedentary and commercially viable livestock system,” said Yola. “With a focus on pasture development and breed improvement, the initiative will strengthen our dairy value chain and contribute to national food security.”
Karin Jansen reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Nigeria in livestock development and agricultural innovation. She emphasized the importance of integrating livestock systems into peace-building frameworks and rural economic empowerment.
“The German Government fully supports Nigeria’s vision for modern livestock development,” Jansen stated. “We are also considering the establishment of demonstration ranches in key states to promote best practices and scalable models in animal husbandry.”
The collaboration is expected to serve as a pilot project for broader interventions within Nigeria’s livestock sector. The initial phase will focus on revitalizing local government grazing reserves and deploying sustainable infrastructure to support productivity, reduce herder-farmer conflict and improve rural livelihoods.
Analysts have noted that the move could significantly improve Nigeria’s livestock output, currently underperforming due to poor infrastructure, low investment, and recurring security challenges. The initiative is projected to boost dairy production, improve meat quality, and stimulate rural economic activity.
The Ministry of Livestock Development stated that the project will also include farmer education, veterinary services, and access to markets, with long-term plans to attract private sector investment into ranching and animal health services.
The Nigeria-Germany livestock initiative comes at a time when the country is seeking to reposition agriculture as a cornerstone of its economic diversification strategy.
The livestock subsector contributes an estimated 17% to agricultural GDP but faces significant gaps in productivity, disease control, and land-use management.
The implementation timeline, funding details, and pilot locations for the grazing infrastructure projects will be announced in the coming weeks, according to ministry officials.
With this bilateral partnership, both governments aim to build a resilient and modern livestock ecosystem that supports food security, job creation and inclusive economic growth.
