Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced an ambitious goal of generating over ₦100 billion through enhanced livestock production and processing.
This initiative is designed to boost the state’s economy, improve the skills of local farmers in animal husbandry, and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
Governor Mbah announced this while welcoming a delegation from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), led by National Project Coordinator Sanusi Abubakar, who were in Enugu to inaugurate the state’s first Regional Model Veterinary Hospital.
The governor expressed enthusiasm about the veterinary hospital’s timely establishment, aligning with the state’s efforts to increase meat and dairy production for local and export markets.
Mbah highlighted the recent Enugu State Ranch Management Agency Law, aimed at unlocking economic opportunities, creating jobs in the livestock sector, and boosting the state’s Gross Domestic Product from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
“We recognized the need for a strong policy and legal framework to support our economic goals. Enugu’s market potential is over ₦100 billion, and we are very optimistic about our GDP growth projections,” Mbah stated.
He emphasized the comprehensive strategies in place to leverage the sector’s economic potential, ensuring the state can produce sufficient meat and dairy products for export, requiring advanced skills in processing and packaging.
Governor Mbah urged investors to seize the opportunities presented by the new ranch law, the veterinary hospital, and the partnership with L-PRES, assuring them of continued security and support for their investments.
L-PRES Coordinator Abubakar noted that their visit was to inspect the hospital site and initiate its construction. The hospital, upon completion, will focus on disease surveillance, healthy animal husbandry, disease eradication, and animal vaccination.
