By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has unveiled the National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) management for the effective conservation, utilisation, and development of the nation’s livestock sector.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, said the NSAP represented a major milestone in the country’s history.

He said the strategy was developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and aligned with international directives.

Maiha noted that the document reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Interlaken Declaration of 2007, adopted by 106 countries including Nigeria, and developed at the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held in Switzerland.

“The declaration recognises the role of animal genetic diversity in ensuring food security, improving human nutrition and supporting rural development.

“It affirms the shared and individual responsibilities of governments to conserve, sustainably utilise and further develop AnGR.

“It also calls attention to significant capacity gaps at national and international levels and urges coordinated action, including increased funding and institutional support”.

Maiha noted the significance of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for AnGR.

“The GPA outlines 23 strategic priorities for action grouped into characterisation, inventory and monitoring of trends and associated risks, sustainable use and development, conservation, policies, institutions, and capacity building.

“These priority areas provide the framework for effective development, utilisation and both in-vivo or live population and in-vitro or gene banks conservation of animal genetic resources”.

He added that implementing the strategy would contribute to reversing the ongoing loss of livestock biodiversity and conserving at-risk breeds vital to Nigeria’s food systems.

Also speaking, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, stressed the need for effective management of Nigeria’s animal genetic resources to enhance productivity and resilience in the livestock industry.

“The plan was to promote wise management of animal genetic resources and serve as a framework for international cooperation on AnGR.

“It is a critical strategy in the domestication of the Global Plan of Action for animal genetic resources management”.

Abubakar explained that the drive to develop the strategy followed Nigeria’s participation at the Global National Coordinators’ workshop and the 13th regular session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on AnGR at the FAO Headquarters in Rome in November 2024.

“On November 18 to 22, 2024, a delegation drawn from the defunct Department of Animal Husbandry Services, and L-PRES were at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy to participate in the Global National Coordinators’ workshop.

“Also was the 13th regular session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on AnGR. One shocking observation in this session was that Nigeria was seated as an observer, while other African countries were delegates.

“This was because of not living up to obligations of the Interlaken Declaration and Global Plan of Action on AnGR which we signed and adopted.

“This became a burden for us which led to the development of the National Strategy and Action Plan on AnGR, and today we are here to launch the NSAP and to inaugurate the National Advisory Committee”.

He expressed hope that the new plan would restore Nigeria’s standing and guide national efforts towards sustainable livestock development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade