Daniel Adaji
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Defence Holding Company Limited have launched a joint ranching and livestock development initiative aimed at strengthening national food security, boosting rural economies and enabling the military to progressively produce its own food.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed the partnership on Wednesday, in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the defence firm.
He said the collaboration would begin with nationwide technical assessments of military farm formations to evaluate existing livestock operations and identify capacity gaps.
“We will visit your farm formations, assess what is on ground and work with you to close the gaps. Our goal is to ensure proper standards, align with national food security objectives, and enable the Armed Forces progressively produce their own food while contributing to national supply,” Maiha said.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the broader priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly food sovereignty, job creation and community stabilisation. He explained that beyond improving productivity within military establishments, the partnership is designed to integrate security institutions into national agricultural production frameworks.
The minister revealed that the ministry has already developed an integrated grazing reserve model, beginning with Wase in Plateau State. The model features internal road networks, residential settlements, schools, veterinary clinics, dams, and designated crop and pasture production zones structured to support modern ranching systems.
On his part, the Group Managing Director of the defence firm, Anthony Ndace, said the company coordinates the commercial and agricultural ventures of the Armed Forces. He noted that it is expanding non-kinetic interventions, including livestock farming, to promote food security, reduce insecurity and support community reintegration.
Ndace requested technical collaboration from the ministry for the development of about 1,000 hectares of livestock and agricultural facilities in Wase, describing the move as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Armed Forces’ agricultural footprint.
The partnership is expected to serve as a replicable model, embedding military institutions within national rural development and food production systems while reducing pressure on public food supply chains.
The initiative comes at a time of heightened political engagement across the country, following recent amendments to electoral laws and protests that have placed governance reforms and institutional accountability at the centre of public discourse.
