POLITICAL POLITICS

Adamawa SDP Candidate Pledges to Boost Livestock, Rice Production

by admin on | 2026-09-20 17:27:15

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Adamawa SDP Candidate Pledges to Boost Livestock, Rice Production

By Muhammad Bala Imam

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa, Mr Christopher Nathaniel, has pledged to develop livestock and rice production to drive industrialisation, create jobs and boost the state’s revenue.

Nathaniel made the pledge on Saturday in Yola during an interactive session with journalists ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

He identified agriculture as a major driver of economic growth, saying livestock contributes about 40 per cent to Adamawa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but insecurity and inadequate investment continue to limit the sector’s potential.

He said cattle rustling and farmer-herder clashes had rendered some grazing areas unsafe, forcing livestock traders to transport cattle outside the state for slaughter and processing.

Nathaniel said major livestock markets in Mubi, Ngurore, Cigari and Ganye supply cattle to markets and slaughterhouses in cities including Lagos and Port Harcourt, allowing much of the economic value generated from the animals to be realised outside Adamawa.

“Without security, the state will not be able to optimise the livestock opportunities available to it,” he said.

The SDP candidate pledged to establish modern abattoirs, cold-storage facilities and livestock processing centres across the state to retain more value from cattle production.

He said local slaughtering and processing would create opportunities in meat processing, dairy production, leather manufacturing, hides and skins, as well as organic fertiliser production from animal waste.

“Development of the cattle market translates into industrialisation,” Nathaniel said, adding that a well-developed livestock value chain could generate additional revenue and create employment.

He also argued that transporting live cattle over long distances could lead to weight and economic losses, stressing that processing livestock within Adamawa would help retain more income in the state.

On rice production, Nathaniel said entrepreneurs were already travelling to Tingno in Lamurde and Gurin in Fufore Local Government Areas to purchase locally produced rice for processing and distribution.

He pledged to establish a major rice processing company to create jobs for young people and expand the state’s agricultural value chain.

Nathaniel also promised to improve healthcare delivery, including free childbirth services for women in public healthcare facilities across the state.

On transportation, he advocated the conversion of commercial vehicles and tricycles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce operating costs.

According to him, CNG, which he put at about ₦650 per litre, could cover roughly the same 28-kilometre distance as petrol costing about ₦1,500.

The candidate also pledged to prioritise the media, describing it as the “fourth tier” of government.

He promised to provide adequate support for journalists, including monthly funding from security votes, to enable them to access timely information and report government programmes and policies effectively.

Nathaniel urged residents to support policies that would strengthen security, agriculture, infrastructure and local processing, saying these measures would help Adamawa retain more economic benefits from its natural and agricultural resources.