The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has pledged to partner with the National Association of Donkey Farmers to boost donkey business in terms of funding and stop illegal donkey farming in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the statement when the National Association of Donkey Farmers of Nigeria visited the Ministry on Thursday 9th April,2026.
The Minister explained that there are societies today in the country where donkeys are still the beast of burden, explaining that donkeys play a very crucial role in rural communities in terms of supporting transportation, small holder agriculture , means of livelihoods in many communities and amongst others.
“According to him, use of donkeys go beyond tourism, where people just come and get a donkey and climb and pay a token of N500 to enjoy their life”.
“We need also to understand from your Association what are the major challenges, the opportunities that are out there in the donkey business, so that we will be in a proper position to also support you.
The Honourable Minister also said that the Ministry will link up with the users of donkey in order to find those challenges they face in terms of diseases, commonly found in the species because the donkey species in Nigeria are different from the ones in North Africa.
Maiha called for some literature on donkey farming which can assist those who want to go into donkey farming for packaging and exportation of the skin abroad.
He stated that regarding the issue of illegality in donkey farming, “There is one market in one of the states where donkeys have been sold illegally for more than 15, 20 years now. We are trying to look at the legislation behind this in order to stop illegality in the sector”.
The President of the National Association of Donkey Farmers of Nigeria, Abubakar Kagu, in his presentation maintained that, the donkey population in Nigeria has been under increasing , due to pressure in uncontrolled slaughtering, illegal trade and absence of structured breeding, conservation and management programmes.
Kagu called for support from the government for the conservation, protection and development of the donkey sector in Nigeria.
“This he said, can be achieved through the formulation of clear policies, on donkey breeding and multiplication centres in donkey producing zones”.
He commended the Ministry for their efforts in promoting the livestock sector in the country especially those in donkey production and management.
Henrietta Okokon
Deputy Director Press and Public Relations Unit.
9/4/26
