The Federal Government has inaugurated a model veterinary hospital in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, as part of efforts to strengthen animal healthcare services, improve livestock productivity and expand opportunities across Nigeria's agricultural sector.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, performed the inauguration on Thursday during a working visit to the state, where he reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's administration's commitment to developing the livestock industry.
The facility was constructed and equipped under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, a World Bank-assisted programme designed to improve livestock production and strengthen the resilience of agricultural communities.
Maiha described the hospital as an important intervention aimed at addressing gaps in veterinary healthcare delivery and improving the quality of animal health services available to livestock farmers.
He said access to reliable veterinary services was essential not only for livestock productivity but also for the country's broader health and economic development.
The minister explained that the hospital had been provided with personnel, drugs and necessary equipment to support its operations, urging veterinary professionals to prioritise quality service delivery.
He also charged the facility's management to ensure that livestock owners received appropriate diagnosis, treatment and prescription drugs whenever they visited the hospital.
Maiha stressed that proper maintenance of the infrastructure and continuous training of personnel would be necessary to sustain the benefits of the investment.
The National Coordinator of the L-PRES project, Sanusi Abubakar, disclosed that the Ado-Ekiti facility was one of 21 prototype model veterinary hospitals built and equipped across 21 states.
According to him, the hospitals are designed to provide modern veterinary services and specialised care to livestock producers, including smallholder farmers who depend on cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, pigs and other animals for their livelihoods.
He explained that timely diagnosis, treatment and preventive healthcare could help reduce livestock diseases, minimise animal deaths and prevent avoidable financial losses suffered by farmers.
Abubakar called on the Ekiti State Government, veterinary professionals, livestock associations, pastoral communities and other stakeholders to take ownership of the facility and ensure its effective use.
He maintained that the long-term success of the project would depend on proper management, consistent maintenance and the willingness of farmers to utilise the available services.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo, described the hospital as part of the state's broader investment in animal health, food security and the development of a commercially viable livestock industry.
The governor said his administration was implementing programmes to strengthen veterinary services, improve livestock infrastructure, expand agricultural extension services, build farmers' capacity and attract private-sector investment.
He also highlighted plans to develop a poultry hub at the Livestock Development Centre in Erifun and expand poultry production through proposed clusters in Emure, Ikole and Igede-Ekiti.
Oyebanji further disclosed that the state was constructing a semi-automated poultry processing plant with the capacity to process 1,500 birds daily.
The facility is expected to reduce the risks and transportation costs associated with moving live birds over long distances while improving processing standards and adding value to poultry production.
The governor said the processing plant would also create employment opportunities and improve the quality of poultry products available to consumers.
During his visit, Maiha inspected several livestock development projects across the state, including the Ikun Dairy Farm in Ikun-Ekiti, the commercial cattle market and ultramodern dual-function abattoir along Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti.
He also visited the Livestock Development Centre in Erifun and the poultry hub in Emure-Ekiti to assess ongoing interventions under the L-PRES programme.
Oyebanji had earlier appealed for stronger Federal Government support to expand the state's livestock sector, describing it as an important source of employment, wealth creation and economic opportunities.
He commended Tinubu for establishing a separate Ministry of Livestock Development, arguing that agriculture and livestock have significant potential to improve livelihoods and strengthen the state's economy.
The National Vice-President of the Sheep and Goat Development Association, Bello Elias, and the Chairman of the Pig Farmers Association in Ekiti State, Albert Aribisin, also commended the governments for the initiative.
The inauguration represents another step in ongoing efforts to modernise Nigeria's livestock industry, where animal diseases, inadequate veterinary facilities and production losses continue to affect farmers' earnings.
If properly managed, the new hospital and other livestock infrastructure could improve access to animal healthcare, strengthen commercial farming and support the supply of healthier livestock products.
However, sustained investment in veterinary personnel, affordable medicines, disease surveillance and regular maintenance will be essential to ensure that the facility delivers lasting benefits to farmers and the wider agricultural economy.