Reporting by **The Punch** reveals that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is facing severe budgetary constraints stemming from prolonged non-release of capital allocations. Operational leaders warned that the fiscal freeze has stalled critical infrastructure projects and developmental programs nationwide.
Despite fiscal bottlenecks, the ministry has executed targeted livestock distribution and breeding support programs in states such as Delta, Cross River, and Enugu. The department is also working under executive mandates to expand its development framework from 18 to 30 states to ensure comprehensive national coverage.
Ministry officials emphasized that livestock production represents a vital frontier for economic diversification, food security, and rural employment creation. However, fulfilling its developmental mandate will require timely budgetary disbursements and enhanced private sector partnerships.
Validation:
Validating the development, **Leadership** reported on the ministry’s financial bottlenecks, noting that officials raised alarms as “capital releases since 2024” remain unfulfilled. Similarly, **The Nation** quoted ministry representatives stating, “Livestock is now the new goldmine for Nigeria to look into. So there should be more funding to ensure that activities and programmes are being carried out effectively.”
Echotitbits take:
The gap between policy ambition and capital disbursement threatens key agricultural diversification goals. Monitor upcoming parliamentary budget reviews to see if lawmakers reallocate urgent capital funding to the ministry.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/no-capital-releases-since-2024-livestock-ministry-laments/, August 24, 2026
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