Following the recent appointment of Alhaji Idi Mukhtar as the Minister for the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) by President Bola Tinubu, the National President of Nigeria Poultry Association (PAN), Chief Sunday Ezeobiora, has described the appointment as a welcome development while on behalf of PAN, pledging support to the Minister.
Ezeobiora, who also serves as the CEO of Sunchi Integrated Farms, the biggest poultry farm in the South East, praised the federal government for establishing the ministry and selecting a capable individual to oversee it. He emphasized that this will likely address the issue of the growing cost of poultry feed and other issues facing the poultry industry that have had a significant negative impact on the sector.
His words: “It is a welcome development. We thank God, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the federal executive council for this appointment. We will give the Honourable Minister, Idi Maiha, all the support he will need to take livestock in Nigeria to an acceptable level.”
Speaking in the same vein, Rev. Gideon Oluleye, the PAN’s Chairman for the South-West Zone, also urged the new minister to use his wealth of experience and commitment to revolutionizing the livestock sector, saying expectations are high for Mukhtar’s leadership at the FMLD.
“This his appointment at the time is seen as critical, especially in addressing issues such as the ongoing herder-farmer conflicts and improving the livestock industry’s contribution to national food security,” said Rev. Oluleye.
Alhaji Idi Mukhtar is well-regarded in the livestock sector and also the Managing Director and CEO of Zaidi Farms Ltd. in Kaduna. His farm boasts over 250 cattle, including Friesian, Simmental, and Jersey breeds, and features modern facilities such as pen houses, a milk parlor, tractors, and hay barns.
Mukhtar has set a high standard in the Nigerian dairy industry, with plans to enhance his cattle assets by focusing on Jersey breeds known for their cost-effectiveness, docility, and high milk yield.
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