…Prof. Adesehinwa: Nigeria has 8million pigs, accounts for 50% of West Africa, is Africa’s largest producer
By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government through the Minister of Livestock Development, Mr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partner the private sector for an enabling environment for a private sector-driven transformation in pig farming across Nigeria.
Speaking during a meeting with the Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) in Abuja over the week end, the Minister outlined key reforms aimed at improving the sector.
These include research on vaccines, the development of special pig breeds, the creation of a comprehensive database of pig farmers, and the construction of modern abattoirs, among other initiatives.
Maiha, stressed the critical role of research in advancing the industry, particularly in collaboration with the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI).
“Research is essential in addressing the NAPRI industry framework for development. Of course, the framework is already in place, but we need targeted interventions.
“We will train veterinarians to provide expert support and ensure the use of genuine drugs.” he stated.
The Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Mr. Ben Bem Goong, in a statement made available to the media, said the Minister further disclosed plans to partner with the National Biotechnology Research Institute (NBRI) to produce and commercialize vaccines, particularly for African Swine Fever, a highly debilitating disease.
“In the next two to three years, we aim to produce 1.2 billion vaccine doses to strengthen disease control across the board,” he added, stressing that Nigeria is already self-sufficient in vaccine production.
On enhancing breeding, feeding, and health management, the Minister stated that the government would organise cooperatives to facilitate access to funding for genuine pig farmers.
He urged the association to identify areas of interest that could drive higher productivity, such as processing, marketing, transportation, and cold storage.
Citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2023, the President of the Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Prof. Akin Adesehinwa, highlighted the industry’s economic potential, stated, “Nigeria has a significant pig population of over 8 million heads, accounting for over 50 per cent of West Africa’s total pig population and ranking as the largest producer in Africa.”
Additionally, data from Statista 2023 revealed that Nigeria leads Africa in pork production, with over 303,000 metric tons (MT) annually, closely followed by South Africa with 302,000 MT.
Despite this, Adesehinwa, lamented that most of Nigeria’s pigs are raised under extensive and semi-intensive systems, with indigenous pig breeds and their crosses still prevalent.
He noted that these breeds are characterised by stunted growth and poor reproductive performance.
He also acknowledged the presence of exotic breeds such as Large White, Landrace, Duroc, and Pietrain, which have been imported at various times and are being reared in some parts of the country due to their higher productivity.
“Pigs are not only a source of protein but also represent a valuable livelihood for many farmers and households across our nation. They play an important role in sustaining livelihoods in rural communities and hold cultural and social significance. Analysts estimate that the pig industry could contribute over ₦265 billion to the Nigerian economy by 2029,” he explained.
He further highlighted key challenges affecting pig farming in Nigeria, including poor product acceptance in certain regions, high labour costs, limited access to credit facilities, frequent disease outbreaks, particularly African swine fever, religious and cultural biases, inconsistent government policies, and limited access to high-quality breeding stock.
Adesehinwa, called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to implement actionable policies in key areas such as policy support, infrastructure development, capacity building, and research & development to fully harness the industry’s potential.
