The Federal Government has announced plans to transform the Wudil Livestock Market in Kano State into an international-standard livestock hub and a model for modern livestock trade in West Africa.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during an inspection of livestock facilities in Kano on Friday.
Maiha described Wudil as a strategic national asset, saying the market handles about 130 trucks of livestock weekly, with each truck conveying at least 35 cattle.
He, however, noted that the market is facing major infrastructural and environmental challenges, including poor sanitation, inadequate slaughter facilities, lack of loading bays, weak veterinary services and poor regulatory systems.
“Wudil is a strategic national asset. However, the environmental and operational gaps are significant. Our goal is to redesign this market and reposition it into a modern, permanent livestock exchange hub that operates daily and meets international standards,” the minister said.
According to him, the proposed upgrade will introduce modern animal pens, veterinary quarantine units, organised commercial areas, banking facilities, security posts and regulated entry points for proper registration and tracking of livestock.
Maiha added that the initiative would also promote value addition by shifting from the traditional sale of live animals to a system driven by feedlots and modern abattoirs.
“On average, animals lose about 25 kilograms in transit. This is avoidable loss of value that we must eliminate,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Aliyu Isa Aliyu, welcomed the initiative, saying the state government is committed to partnering with the Federal Government to upgrade Wudil into a model livestock market for the West African sub-region.
The minister also visited selected feedlots, the Wudil Milk Collection Centre and the Samal Integrated Farm, where he held discussions with stakeholders on improving dairy production and strengthening the livestock value chain.
