THE GOMBE STATE L-PRES COORDINATOR PROF. U. B. ABUBAKAR HIGHLIGHTS KEY INTERVENTIONS, SAYS GOMBE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAM EARNED WORLD BANK RECOGNITION AS MODEL FOR OTHER STATE
The Gombe State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project is strengthening collaboration with the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development to consolidate ongoing interventions and accelerate Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s livestock transformation agenda across the state.The State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, made the call when he led a delegation of the project on a familiarisation visit to the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali.Prof. Abubakar explained that the visit was aimed at briefing the Commissioner on the mandate, objectives, activities and achievements of L-PRES since its commencement in Gombe State, while identifying areas for stronger collaboration with the new ministry.He said L-PRES is a six-year World Bank-assisted project, which Gombe joined in December 2023 as the second participating state, with a mandate to improve livestock productivity and resilience and strengthen the commercialisation of livestock value chains.According to him, the project’s interventions, guided by needs assessments and stakeholder consultations, have addressed critical challenges including water supply, market access, livestock production, animal health, as well as conflicts along cattle routes and grazing reserves.He disclosed that L-PRES had constructed more than 100 solar-powered boreholes, rehabilitated earth dams, established 55 dairy farmers' cooperatives and milk collection centres, while providing training, improved breeds and other support to enhance productivity and profitability.Prof. Abubakar further highlighted the success of the project’s Artificial Insemination programme, which recorded a 79 per cent conception rate and 66 per cent delivery rate, earning Gombe recognition as a model for other states.He said the project was also constructing an Artificial Insemination and Breed Multiplication Centre at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gombe State University, Mallam Sidi for sustainability of the artificial insemination programme.He said L-PRES was equally supporting conflict prevention through the redemarcation and remapping of cattle routes and grazing reserves, establishment of livestock resting points and participation in conflict prevention and resolution committees at state and local government levels.The Coordinator added that the project was investing in local value addition through an ultra-modern abattoir, poultry and livestock fattening hubs, tannery and leather facilities and an international livestock market under the Agro-Livestock Development Zone.He also highlighted ongoing animal health interventions, including the renovation and upgrading of veterinary facilities, establishment of disease surveillance laboratories and cold-chain facilities, and support for animal immunisation.Prof. Abubakar noted that Gombe ranked second in L-PRES management and implementation performance, attracting interest from other states seeking to learn from its experience.Responding, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali, commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his vision and commitment to executing legacy development projects across the state.He also congratulated the L-PRES Coordination Office on its achievements, stressing the need to maintain high standards in project implementation.Hon. Alkali said the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was aimed at strengthening and consolidating achievements in the livestock sector, particularly through interventions such as those being implemented by L-PRES.He identified food security, job creation, prevention and resolution of farmer-herder conflicts, and the revitalisation of veterinary infrastructure, including Artificial Insemination, as key areas of focus for the ministry.The Commissioner said the ministry would work closely with L-PRES to expand the impact of ongoing interventions and create more opportunities for collaboration.He expressed optimism that the project would achieve greater results through stronger institutional cooperation, while commending Governor Inuwa Yahaya for providing visionary leadership and creating an environment for development across the state.He noted that Gombe had continued to change under the Governor’s leadership, describing the administration as committed to improving the lives of citizens.Hon. Alkali assured the L-PRES team of the ministry’s support for greater collaboration, awareness and sensitisation to ensure that citizens across the state understand and benefit from the interventions being implemented.
The Gombe State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project is strengthening collaboration with the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development to consolidate ongoing interventions and accelerate Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s livestock transformation agenda across the state.
The State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, made the call when he led a delegation of the project on a familiarisation visit to the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali.
Prof. Abubakar explained that the visit was aimed at briefing the Commissioner on the mandate, objectives, activities and achievements of L-PRES since its commencement in Gombe State, while identifying areas for stronger collaboration with the new ministry.
He said L-PRES is a six-year World Bank-assisted project, which Gombe joined in December 2023 as the second participating state, with a mandate to improve livestock productivity and resilience and strengthen the commercialisation of livestock value chains.
According to him, the project’s interventions, guided by needs assessments and stakeholder consultations, have addressed critical challenges including water supply, market access, livestock production, animal health, as well as conflicts along cattle routes and grazing reserves.
He disclosed that L-PRES had constructed more than 100 solar-powered boreholes, rehabilitated earth dams, established 55 dairy farmers' cooperatives and milk collection centres, while providing training, improved breeds and other support to enhance productivity and profitability.
Prof. Abubakar further highlighted the success of the project’s Artificial Insemination programme, which recorded a 79 per cent conception rate and 66 per cent delivery rate, earning Gombe recognition as a model for other states.
He said the project was also constructing an Artificial Insemination and Breed Multiplication Centre at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gombe State University, Mallam Sidi for sustainability of the artificial insemination programme.
He said L-PRES was equally supporting conflict prevention through the redemarcation and remapping of cattle routes and grazing reserves, establishment of livestock resting points and participation in conflict prevention and resolution committees at state and local government levels.
The Coordinator added that the project was investing in local value addition through an ultra-modern abattoir, poultry and livestock fattening hubs, tannery and leather facilities and an international livestock market under the Agro-Livestock Development Zone.
He also highlighted ongoing animal health interventions, including the renovation and upgrading of veterinary facilities, establishment of disease surveillance laboratories and cold-chain facilities, and support for animal immunisation.
Prof. Abubakar noted that Gombe ranked second in L-PRES management and implementation performance, attracting interest from other states seeking to learn from its experience.
Responding, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali, commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his vision and commitment to executing legacy development projects across the state.
He also congratulated the L-PRES Coordination Office on its achievements, stressing the need to maintain high standards in project implementation.
Hon. Alkali said the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was aimed at strengthening and consolidating achievements in the livestock sector, particularly through interventions such as those being implemented by L-PRES.
He identified food security, job creation, prevention and resolution of farmer-herder conflicts, and the revitalisation of veterinary infrastructure, including Artificial Insemination, as key areas of focus for the ministry.
The Commissioner said the ministry would work closely with L-PRES to expand the impact of ongoing interventions and create more opportunities for collaboration.
He expressed optimism that the project would achieve greater results through stronger institutional cooperation, while commending Governor Inuwa Yahaya for providing visionary leadership and creating an environment for development across the state.
He noted that Gombe had continued to change under the Governor’s leadership, describing the administration as committed to improving the lives of citizens.
