Livestock Ministry Partners World Bank, AFDB For Climate Action

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AFDB) to address climate change challenges in Nigeria’s livestock sector while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth, resilience and inclusive development.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, stated this when she received a delegation from the World Bank Mission and the African Development Bank alongside members of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change in Abuja on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026.

She explained that the proposed collaboration aligns with the Ministry’s strategic mandate to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on livestock production, safeguard livelihoods and promote environmentally responsible practices across the value chain, with particular emphasis on addressing the effects of global warming.

Represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Mr. Ohaeri Stephen Ezenwa, the Permanent Secretary noted that the livestock sector remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, employment and rural livelihoods.

“Despite its importance, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change, with far-reaching implications for animal health, feed and water availability, productivity, greenhouse gas emissions and overall sustainability,” she said.

According to her, these realities underscore the urgent need for evidence-based policies, reliable data systems and coordinated national action to drive climate-smart livestock development.

In his presentation, the Director (Technical), in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and Team Lead of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change, Dr. Alike Peter, explained that the Technical Working Group on Climate Change was established to support the ambitious National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which targets doubling the sector’s contribution to GDP from about $32 billion to $74 billion within ten years. 

He noted that whether growth is achieved through improved efficiency of existing stock or expansion in livestock numbers, both pathways have direct implications for greenhouse gas emissions, as well as feed, water and land-use management, making climate considerations central to livestock development planning.

Dr. Alike further explained that the Working Group is prioritising evidence-based national data on short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane and nitrous oxide, to guide policy and decision-making. 

To this end, the Ministry is collaborating with partners such as the World Bank to measure methane using FAO-approved models and direct measurement approaches, while working closely with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to ensure methodological rigour and national ownership of data.

Dr. Alike added that ongoing collaborations aim to establish a national methane baseline, develop evidence-based mitigation and adaptation measures, and build the capacity of the Working Group and stakeholders, positioning Nigeria to strengthen it's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), access carbon markets and advance climate-smart livestock systems.

Speaking at the meeting, the World Bank Group Representative and Senior Fisheries Specialist, Dr. Harrison Charo Karisa, identified triple areas of opportunity including climate-smart aquaculture for methane reduction and productivity, the blue economy - such as seaweed farming and value chains for women and youth employment, and results-based finance and carbon markets linked to methane abatement and nature-based solutions.

He added that seaweed, which grows naturally in aquatic environments, can also serve as a nutritious livestock feed supplement rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Also speaking, the Chief Livestock Officer at the AFDB, Dr. Youssouf Kabore, commended the Ministry’s proactive approach to addressing climate change and assured the Bank’s full support towards implementing practical and scalable interventions in the livestock sector.

Other participants at the meeting included Directors of the Ministry as well as representatives of GIZ, Netzence Sustainability Limited and 3logy Limited.

Ogochukwu Igboamalu
Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Information)
3rd February, 2026