FG assesses moribund livestock farms in Enugu

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Wednesday concluded a comprehensive inspection tour of major livestock facilities in Enugu State, reaffirming federal government’s commitment to reviving dormant assets and unlocking new economic opportunities within the sector. The minister visited the Adada Cattle Multiplication Centre, an 847-hectare facility that has remained unutilised. Following an […]

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Wednesday concluded a comprehensive inspection tour of major livestock facilities in Enugu State, reaffirming federal government’s commitment to reviving dormant assets and unlocking new economic opportunities within the sector.

The minister visited the Adada Cattle Multiplication Centre, an 847-hectare facility that has remained unutilised. Following an assessment of the site, including the Adada dam, he said the ministry had a clearer picture of the steps needed to bring the centre into full operation.

Describing the area as “a paradise yet to be discovered,” Mukhtar said the tour revealed immense opportunities that must be unlocked, adding that the dam would be channelled to irrigate extensive pasture fields to be developed at the site.

He stressed the need for practical, field-based engagement, noting: “We must come out to the field, discover the potential and create the environment for private sector and public-private partnerships to work with us to change the narrative.”

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In Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, the chairman, Chijioke Ezeugwu, a lawyer, expressed appreciation for the visit, and pledged full support toward revamping the centre, highlighting the economic prospects for the community.

The minister also visited Mary Agro Farms in Udi, an initiative of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, and held engagements with livestock stakeholders. He reiterated the federal government’s determination to fully harness the sector in line with President Tinubu’s vision for non-oil sectors to significantly contribute to national growth and gross domestic product.

The minister also inspected the Okpuje Pig and Progeny Centre, a 26.2-hectare facility with a 3,000-stock capacity established 43 years ago but left unused for decades.

He commended the host community for safeguarding the facility and emphasised that the centre, along with other abandoned livestock investments in the state, would be revived. Mukhtar added that plans were underway to establish a modular abattoir to process bacon for domestic and export markets.

The chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Jude Chinedu Asogwa, an engineer, thanked the Tinubu-led administration for prioritising the rehabilitation of the investments, saying the initiative aligns with the state government’s push to grow agriculture as a driver of economic prosperity.