The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the slaughtering of animals in unregulated locations across Nigeria as part of efforts to modernise the livestock sector and boost the country’s capacity for red meat exports.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, made this known on Thursday in Kaduna during the launch of Olam Agri’s TruValue Cattle Feed, a concentrate feed designed for beef and dairy production.
Maiha stated that the government had begun establishing modern abattoirs and would ensure that livestock intended for slaughter pass through feedlots and satisfy required standards before entering the market.
He said, “We are going to sustain the tempo to ensure that in the not too distant future, we will stop trading in live animals, and every slaughtered animal in this country must be done under the controlled environment of a modern abattoir.”
According to the minister, foundation-laying ceremonies had already been conducted for two abattoirs and a mini facility in the Offa area of Kwara State, while another abattoir under construction in Abuja would be capable of processing 1,000 cattle and 3,000 small animals daily.
He explained that investments in feedlots, modern abattoirs, meat processing facilities and cold-chain systems would help Nigeria produce high-quality and traceable meat for local use and export markets.
The minister said, “For them to meet the specification, these animals will have to pass through a feedlot, whether it’s a ram, a goat, a pig, a camel, or a bull. Standards have to be introduced, and this will be enforced.”
Maiha described the introduction of TruValue feed as coming at an appropriate time, noting that access to quality and affordable feed remained one of the biggest challenges limiting livestock productivity and contributing to farmer-herder conflicts.
He noted that a steady supply of feed all year round, through fodder, crop residues or concentrates, was essential for improving peace, boosting productivity and making livestock production more profitable.
“Feed remains one of the most significant constraints to livestock productivity in Nigeria. It is undoubtedly at the root cause of the current farmer-herder crisis in this country,” he said.
Maiha added that balanced feed could improve animal weight, reduce finishing periods and increase returns for farmers when combined with quality fodder, clean water and proper management practices.
He also revealed that Nigeria already had prospective buyers for its red meat from the Gulf region, the Middle East and Egypt, stressing the need to improve production levels and maintain quality standards to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Today we have a lot of offtakers waiting for Nigerian red meat. I have met several potential offtakers from the Gulf, from the Middle East, including Egypt. And I do believe the African market too is going to rely on us ultimately,” he said.
The minister stated that the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, approved by the National Economic Council, was aimed at raising the livestock sector’s contribution to the economy from $32bn to $74bn over the next decade.
He added that the proposed Nigerian Livestock Economic Advancement Programme (N-LEAP) would create a network involving producers, financiers, insurers, breeders, aggregators and marketers.
Maiha also dismissed fears surrounding the Federal Government’s Livestock Development Centres, explaining that the initiative was not intended to seize land from states or communities.
He said states would decide which livestock value chains suited their ecological conditions and would voluntarily provide land after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
“No government, nobody, least of all under this present regime, is going to take land from anybody. The states decide what they want to do,” he said.
Representing Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, the Special Assistant on Land Resources, Umar Ismail, described the launch as an important step for the growth of Nigeria’s cattle feed industry.
Ismail said Olam Agri’s investment in the livestock sector aligned with government efforts to make livestock production a key contributor to economic growth.
He noted that the company had invested $150m in Nigeria since joining the feed business nine years ago, with activities spanning poultry and fish feed production.
