NEWS: FG to Turn Wase Grazing Reserve into Livestock Powerhouse, Create 10,000 Jobs

"The government intends to allocate about 30,000 hectares of the reserve's over 100,000 hectares of arable land to the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force for the establishment of modern grazing and livestock production facilities." Maiha 

..... Says "the initiative is part of broader efforts by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to unlock the economic potential of the reserve and position Plateau State as a major livestock production centre in Nigeria."

In a move expected to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs while boosting Nigeria's livestock value chain, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, on behalf of the Federal Government, has unveiled plans to transform the expansive Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State into a modern livestock production hub.

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the reserve alongside representatives of Defence Headquarters Holdings, which has expressed interest in investing in large-scale livestock farming within the area.

Maiha said the government intends to allocate about 30,000 hectares of the reserve's over 100,000 hectares of arable land to the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force for the establishment of modern grazing and livestock production facilities.

According to him, the initiative is part of broader efforts by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to unlock the economic potential of the reserve and position Plateau State as a major livestock production centre in Nigeria.

The minister noted that consultations had been held with pastoralists, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders, adding that the project enjoys widespread support within Wase Local Government Area.

He particularly commended the member representing Wase Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ahmed Idris Wase, for his commitment to the project and agricultural development in the area.

Maiha explained that the project would deploy modern livestock production techniques, including Artificial Insemination (AI), to improve cattle genetics, while selected bulls would be raised in feedlots before processing at modern abattoirs.

He said the Wase model is expected to serve as a blueprint for neighbouring states such as Kaduna, Bauchi and Nasarawa, as well as other parts of the country seeking to modernise livestock production.

"The livestock sector remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the Nigerian economy, and a single enterprise of this scale can generate more than 10,000 jobs," the minister said.

Beyond beef production, the government also plans to strengthen dairy development through partnerships with private investors, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Jos. The initiative will include the establishment of solar-powered milk collection centres to improve milk aggregation, processing and marketing.

Maiha described livestock development as a sustainable solution to many of the economic and security challenges confronting Plateau State and Nigeria, stressing that strategic investments in the sector would create jobs, reduce poverty and promote peaceful coexistence.

During the visit, the minister inspected pasture development sites, storage facilities, irrigation infrastructure and livestock service centres within the reserve. He was accompanied by representatives of ABIS Group, which is considering investment in feedlots to supply livestock to the modern abattoir under construction in Heipang, Plateau State.

Also on the inspection team were officials of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and other stakeholders assessing investment opportunities in the reserve.

As part of the visit, Maiha and the National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, commissioned a Digital Weather Station in Wase.

Funded by L-PRES and managed by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the facility is expected to support climate-smart livestock production through real-time monitoring of rainfall, soil temperature, wind speed and other critical weather indicators.

Dr. Abubakar said Wase Grazing Reserve is one of five pilot reserves selected by the Federal Government for remodelling and revitalisation under the L-PRES programme.

Community leaders in Wase welcomed the initiative, describing it as a transformative investment capable of stimulating economic growth, creating employment opportunities and improving food security across the region.

This was contained in report signed by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and made available to Naij News Alert in Abuja.

Pictures of the event.