By Onwa Ekor
When Liyel Imoukhuede resumed as Special Adviser on Livestock Development to the Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu three months ago, he walked into a sector with more potential than structure.
One hundred days later, the conversation in the state has shifted as it is no longer about whether Cross River has livestock, but about how to turn cattle, poultry, dairy and feed into jobs, income and food security.
“The first 100 days have been about laying the foundation,” Imoukhuede said in a statement marking the milestone, adding that “we came into office with a clear understanding that Cross River’s livestock potential is enormous, but potential alone does not create jobs, income or food security, it must be organised, financed, commercialised and connected to markets.”
That framing has defined the adviser’s early tenure anchored on less ceremony, more mapping, listening and planning.
According to the office, the past 100 days moved livestock development from a broad idea into what officials now call a structured agenda.
The work started with assessment. Teams began documenting the true state of livestock production, infrastructure, assets, value chains and the bottlenecks farmers face across the 18 local government areas.
In parallel, the office began drafting the Cross River Livestock Development Roadmap 2027–2033, a seven-year plan intended to serve as the blueprint for everything from breeding and feed to processing, logistics and exports.
“We have engaged farmers, producers, investors, academia, development partners and government institutions.
“We have begun the development of the Cross River Livestock Development Roadmap 2027–2033, while identifying opportunities that can attract investment into the State,” Imoukhuede maintained.
That stakeholder drive cut across government agencies, cooperatives, private operators, universities and development partners, with a goal to avoid policy made in isolation, instead build from what is already happening on farms and in markets.
The adviser’s office outlined 10 key actions completed in the first 100 days:
*Sector assessment*
A statewide diagnostic of production systems, infrastructure and market gaps is underway to establish baseline data.
*Seven-year livestock roadmap initiated*
The 2027–2033 roadmap is being developed to provide long-term direction and attract consistent investment.
*Stakeholder engagement*
Meetings held with farmers, livestock operators, academia, investors and development partners to align priorities.
*Federal government collaboration*
Stronger ties built with the Federal Ministry responsible for livestock to position Cross River for national programmes and funding.
*L-PRES engagement*
The state advanced its participation in the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and worked to strengthen institutional readiness to access the programme.
*Strategic assets review*
Assessment began on key assets including Calachika, Songhai and the Obudu cattle/dairy corridor, with focus on functionality and economic value.
*Investment pipeline developed*
Opportunities mapped across cattle, dairy, poultry, feed, meat processing, cold chain, honey, breeding, livestock markets and agro-industrial clusters.
*Private sector mobilisation*
Framework being set for PPPs, joint ventures, concessions and other commercial models to bring in private capital.
*Reframing livestock as an economy*
The office pushed the discussion beyond “animal production” to include feed, genetics, veterinary services, processing, logistics, finance and exports.
*Shift to implementation*
With assessment and policy work started, the next phase will focus on actual projects, investment deals and measurable outputs.
It is pertinent to note that, livestock has long been treated as a side activity in Cross River, even as demand for meat, milk, eggs and processed products grows across the South-South and beyond.
From the foregoing, Imoukhuede’s team argues that treating it as a full economy, not just farming, is the only way to capture value within the state.
“We want to see more animals produced, more milk and meat processed, more poultry enterprises established, more young people and women entering the sector, more private capital coming into Cross River and more value created within the state,” he said.
The emphasis on youth and women reflects a deliberate push to make livestock attractive beyond traditional herding and backyard poultry. The plan also targets cold chain and processing, areas that currently force many producers to sell raw and at low margins.
The Adviser, aware that the foundation phase is over, pointed out that the next phase will be about implementation, a development that would move from roadmaps and assessments to bankable projects, partnerships and production targets.
The office says it will prioritize projects that can create jobs quickly while also building infrastructure that lasts, such as feed mills, abattoirs with modern standards and aggregation markets linked to transport.
“Our ambition is simple: to build a livestock economy that works for the farmer, creates opportunities for our people and make Cross River a destination for livestock investment,” Imoukhuede stated.
For a state known more for tourism, cocoa and timber, the bet is that livestock can become a new pillar, one that touches daily nutrition, rural incomes and industrial growth.
As the roadmap takes shape ahead of 2027, the next 100 days will be watched closely by farmers waiting for inputs, investors looking for deals, and young people looking for a reason to stay and build in Cross River.
