News Analysis – By Abdul Lauya
As Tinubu launches a massive livestock industrial zone in Gombe, questions arise over its dual role in development and early political positioning ahead of 2027.
The ground-breaking of a ₦120 billion Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone in Gombe State marks a significant stride in Nigeria’s bid to modernize its livestock sector, a predominantly Northern economic mainstay long neglected by successive administrations.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s declaration during the ceremony not only emphasized the economic potential of the initiative but also unmistakably placed it within the early campaign optics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
At the heart of the project is a 184-hectare industrial zone, backed by an initial ₦60 billion from the Federal Government, set to house an ultramodern abattoir, international livestock markets, feed mills, leather-processing facilities, and a dry port.
The scale and ambition of the initiative could revolutionize Nigeria’s livestock value chain by improving hygiene standards, curbing live animal transportation, and boosting exports, contributing to job creation, import substitution, and foreign exchange earnings.
Yet, beyond the economic promise lies a strong political subtext: Yahaya’s unambiguous pledge of loyalty to Tinubu, vowing that “Gombe people will follow him to the battlefield blindfolded”, casts the event as more than just a development milestone.
The governor’s claim that no Northern leader in nearly five decades invested comparably in the livestock sector signals a calculated political positioning by Tinubu to court Northern sentiments and secure regional allegiance well ahead of 2027.
The presence of the newly appointed Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, underscores Tinubu’s structural commitment to the sector.
It also reflects an attempt to institutionalize his political goodwill through visible developmental interventions in regions critical to electoral success.
In many ways, the project walks a dual path: it is both a legitimate response to Nigeria’s agricultural and economic challenges, and a strategic political investment.
If fully realized, the zone may stand as one of Tinubu’s most tangible achievements, especially in the North, where livestock is not just business, but culture.
The timing, tone, and scope of the announcement suggest a presidency already looking beyond midterm performance toward securing long-term electoral capital.
Whether Nigerians view the initiative primarily as transformative governance or an elaborate re-election strategy may depend on its timely delivery, operational transparency, and measurable impact.
Either way, the livestock zone has now become a defining symbol in the evolving narrative of Tinubu’s presidency.
