FG Pledges Lasting Impact for Donor-Funded Livestock Projects

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of donor-funded projects through a deliberate policy of continuity and ownership.

She made this known while declaring open a two-day technical workshop on the development of sustainability plans for infrastructure constructed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, on Wednesday 16th May 16 2025, in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin, stressed the importance of institutionalising strategies that will safeguard these investments beyond the project’s life span.

"The theme of this workshop is incredibly significant, given the long-standing challenges surrounding the issue of sustainability of donor-sponsored projects in Nigeria.

"Over the years, we have witnessed the unfortunate consequences of poorly sustained projects, which have led to wasting of valuable resources, inconsistent public service delivery, deterioration of community benefits, widening inequalities, environmental degradation, and lowered donor confidence among others.

"The time has come for us to change this narrative. Sustainability must become the cornerstone of our donor-sponsored livestock projects in Nigeria," she said.

In his presentation, the National Project Coordinator of LPRESS, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, provided a comprehensive overview of the project. He explained that LPRESS is a $500 million World Bank-assisted initiative under the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, aimed at improving productivity, commercialisation, and resilience in the livestock sector.

The project, currently being implemented in 20 states, focuses on value chains including cattle, poultry, sheep, and goats, and operates under five components, three technical and two non-technical.

Dr. Abubakar outlined the technical components as institutional innovation system strengthening, livestock value chain enhancement, and crisis prevention and conflict mitigation. He also highlighted the two non-technical components as coordination and administration, as well as contingency emergency response.

So far, the project has disbursed $221 million and has partnered with institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Feed Industry Practitioners if Nigeria (FIPAN), and international organisations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Through these partnerships, LPRESS is developing the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan and exploring innovative insurance mechanisms to support livestock farmers.

The National Project Coordinator showcased various completed and ongoing projects under L-PRES, including pasture seed processing units, reference feed laboratories in collaboration with NIAS and the University of Ibadan, and strategic vaccine storage facilities.

He also presented achievements at the state level, such as rehabilitated abattoirs, solar-powered boreholes, slaughter slabs, and centralised pasture pilot schemes. These interventions, he said, are being implemented across clusters to support value chain development and reduce farmer-herder conflicts through sedentarisation and improved access to water and pasture.

In his goodwill message, the Co-Task Team Leader, Chidozie Onyedikachi Anyiro, from the World Bank, stressed the importance of ensuring that the project’s infrastructures are not only completed to standard but are also sustainably managed post-implementation.

He reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts in transforming the livestock sector and urged all stakeholders to contribute ideas and innovations that will guarantee the longevity of the infrastructures.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Professor Herbert Udo, acknowledged the substantial progress made and affirmed the Institute’s long-standing support for L-PRES.

The two-day workshop is expected to result in the development of a robust and actionable sustainability plan for all L-PRES infrastructure, thereby guaranteeing continued benefits for livestock producers, communities, and the wider agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Ben. Bem Goong
Director, Press and Public Relations Department
21st May, 2025