The Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Agabaidu Jideani, says ongoing federal government reforms are transforming the livestock sector, with the potential to raise its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 5 per cent by 2030.
Jideani said the livestock sector could increase incomes by up to 40 per cent, create about 20,000 jobs in the first five years, and generate foreign exchange through exports to high-demand markets in the Middle East and Europe.
He made the remarks while unveiling the chamber’s upcoming Annual National Livestock Development Summit, Trade Fair, and Exhibition, scheduled for December 1–6, 2025, at the Adetokunbo Kayode Trade and Convention Centre, Abuja.
In a statement, Jideani explained that the event—organised in partnership with the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, the Delivery Unit of the Office of the Vice President, and First Lady Concepts Consulting—would serve as a “permanent dialogue mechanism” for the sector.
According to him, “The synergy between President Tinubu’s reforms and the ACCI Summit promises exponential gains for Nigeria and its people. Economically, the livestock sector could contribute up to 5 per cent of GDP by 2030, generating foreign exchange through exports to markets in the Middle East and Europe, where demand for halal products exceeds $1 trillion annually.”
The DG added that smallholder farmers will benefit from improved market access, with digital platforms reducing middlemen and ensuring fair pricing—potentially increasing incomes by 40 per cent.
He noted that the federal reforms are addressing herder-farmer conflicts through alternative dispute resolution frameworks, which could reduce incidents by 25 per cent within two years.
On the environmental front, Jideani said the reforms and summit would promote regenerative grazing, carbon sequestration, and water conservation to tackle climate change threats, while empowering women and youths, who make up 70 per cent of the agricultural workforce.
He further highlighted that the technical focus of the reforms includes vaccine development to halve livestock disease losses, precision farming to increase yields, and value chain optimisation through cold chain logistics and abattoir modernisation to cut post-harvest losses from 40 per cent to below 10 per cent.
“The summit will feature policy dialogues, technical workshops, investment deal rooms, and an innovation challenge with grants of up to N50 million. We expect over 200 exhibitors showcasing livestock, technologies, equipment, and products, as well as engagements that could unlock N8 billion in investments in its first edition,” the ACCI DG said.