There is a development that shows the determination of the federal government to balance the drive for revenue with the achievement of food security and economic development in the country. This was demonstrated in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital with the unveiling of a working relationship between a major agricultural sector and the federal inland revenue service, FIRS.
It happened during a courtesy visit by one of the ministers to Dr. Zacceaus Adedeji, chairman of the FIRS in his office.
Mr. Idi Muktar Maiha, minister of Livestock Development disclosed that his ministry was working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to embark on a groundbreaking partnership designed to unlock the livestock sector’s economic potential. This collaboration, according to the minister, is expected to drive national growth, improve food security, and create new opportunities for wealth creation and peace building.
During the visit, Maiha wmphasised the Ministry’s mission to transform the livestock sector into a modern engine for food and nutrition security, job creation and rural development.
Hear the minister: “The livestock sector is not only critical to our food security but also a strategic tool for wealth creation and peacebuilding through non-kinetic means. We look to the NRS (now FIRS but soon to be re-christened National Revenue Service) to partner with us in designing innovative revenue and fiscal strategies that will mainstream the sector into Nigeria’s broader development and prosperity agenda.”
The Ministry and FIRS have, therefore, agreed to establish a joint framework that will promote innovative fiscal incentives, formalize the livestock economy, and attract increased private sector investment across the value chain. This framework will enable the sector to access its full potential and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The FIRS Chairman emphasised the importance of securing resources for the implementation of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy. He noted that this would be a priority as the government recalibrates the economy.
This partnership marks a new era of growth and development for the livestock sector. With the Ministry and FIRS working together, the sector is poised to become a major driver of national growth and a key contributor to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
The collaboration will also help to formalize the livestock economy, creating new opportunities for private sector investment and job creation. This will have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians who depend on the sector for their livelihood.
