The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to integrating apiculture development into the implementation framework of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), designed to unlock the vast potential within Nigeria’s livestock value chain.
The Minister made this known in his keynote address at the World Bee Day 2026 celebration, held in Abuja on Friday, 22nd May 2026, where he emphasised that, the livestock value chain can be significantly transformed through targeted investments, innovation, private sector participation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.
Representing the Minister, the Director of Quality Assurance and Certification, Dr. Nurallah Abubakar, stated that through the NL-GAS framework, the Ministry is committed to promoting sustainable apiculture practices, strengthening value chain development for honey and other bee products, enhancing research, training, and extension services, improving access to markets and financing, encouraging climate-smart agricultural practices, and expanding opportunities for women and youth participation in the apiculture sector.
He noted that bees remain among nature’s most productive species, serving not only as honey producers but also as critical pollinators that support crop reproduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem stability, and climate resilience.
Dr. Abubakar further observed that, bee populations globally are increasingly threatened by climate change, habitat loss, environmental degradation, bush burning, indiscriminate pesticide use, pests, and diseases. He stressed that these challenges require deliberate policy interventions, strengthened stakeholder collaboration, increased public awareness, and the adoption of sustainable environmental practices.
Also speaking, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Mohammad Usman, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to boosting honey and bee product production for both domestic consumption and export.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, stated that the Ministry remains committed to strengthening interventions aimed at improving the apiculture subsector, promoting sustainable beekeeping practices, enhancing production standards, expanding market access, and protecting pollinator habitats across the country.
Represented by the Director of Ruminants and Monogastric, Mr. Victor Egbon, she also commended the Youth for Agriculture Initiative (YFAI) for its sustained partnership and commitment to the annual commemoration of World Bee Day.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Osas Isokponomu, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting policies and programmes that promote value addition, industrialisation, export competitiveness, and market integration within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Earlier in his opening address, the President of the Youth for Apiculture Initiative (YFAI), Mr. Kingsley Nwagwu, called for the establishment of a National Apiculture Policy as a foundation for unlocking Nigeria’s emerging apiculture economy.
Participants at the event were drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stakeholders, students, academia, research institutions, and development partners.
Henrietta Okokon
Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations
23rd May, 2026
