Livestock Production: Bauchi Govt Pledges Construction Of 100 Mini Dams Along Cattle Routes

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

In an effort to encourage Livestock Production, Bauchi state government on Monday unveiled plans to construct about 100 mini dams along cattle routes in order to facilitate access to adequate water for livestock and foster healthy cohabitation between herders and farmers across the state.

Governor Bala Mohammed of the state made this known while speaking at the 2025 Livestock Vaccination campaign inauguration in Itas-Gadau local government area of the state.

Governor Mohammed who disclosed that Livestock Production is key to the development of informal and formal sectors of the economy, noted that his administration has since inception made livestock vaccination campaign a routine annual exercise.

“Our gathering here today, to the grace of God is a testimony of this position and an unwavering commitment to ensuring a healthy livestock population and by extension, healthy protein supply to our people”, the Governor said.

According to Bala Mohammed Governor, the Livestock vaccination campaign, targeting 1,500,000 animals across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state include the procurement of over 10,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines.

The Governor further noted that the vaccination exercise is aimed at promoting a healthy livestock population and encourage livestock farming as a means of boosting the economy of Bauchi state.

Governor Mohammed who stressed that Bauchi is leading livestock producers in the country with about 75 percent of the farming population engaging in one form of livestock business or the other, attributed the development to influx of Fulani cattle breeders from conflict-affected states.

“The strategic location of Bauchi state in the Sudan Savannah with abundant grazing areas has also made it a point of convergence for international stock routes from the Northwest, Northeast and North central part of Nigeria”, he disclosed.

The Governor expressed delight that records from the Federal Department of Livestock indicated that Bauchi state has about 3.7 million herds of cattle, 5.4 million Sheeps and 8.2 million Goats.

He said, with the crisis in Northeast, Northwest and some parts of Benue and Plateau states, most of the Fulani have moved into Bauchi state, thereby increasing the number of Livestock population, necessitating sustained vaccination against preventable animal diseases.

Earlier in his remarks, the Bauchi Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA), Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf Tilde and the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Muhammad Husaini Buzaye appreciated the Governor for the gesture, and enjoined livestock owners to take advantage of the campaign and get their animals vaccinated.