The Federal Government has announced plans to establish an agro-industrial business hub in the Federal Capital Territory, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s livestock value chain and improve market access for pastoral businesses.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha disclosed this during a high-level tripartite strategic engagement involving the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, ABIS Group and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) in Abuja on Sunday.
According to the minister, the proposed ABIS Mega Livestock Processing Facility is expected to serve as a major agro-industrial hub aimed at enhancing livestock processing, quality assurance systems and inclusive contracting frameworks within the sector.
Maiha assured stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the smooth take-off and operation of the project, stressing that the government would work closely with ABIS Group, LPRES and other relevant stakeholders to guarantee effective implementation.
He said the engagement followed Nigeria’s participation in an international training programme on pastoral market access through quality assurance and inclusive contracting models held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The training, organised under the auspices of the and the African Pastoral Market Development platform, brought together participants from Somalia, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria.
“The ministry remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a cohesive and energetic approach toward the development and implementation of the ABIS Mega Livestock Processing Facility in Abuja,” the minister said.
Leader of the ABIS team, Ambassador , commended the ministry for facilitating the group’s participation at the international programme, describing the exposure as valuable to the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of LPRES, appreciated the ministry for its inclusiveness and support toward the engagement.
Speaking on behalf of the younger generation of the ABIS Group, General Manager , said the training provided critical insights into improving pastoral market systems, strengthening quality assurance mechanisms and developing inclusive contracting models for Nigeria’s livestock sector.
He noted that deliberations during the engagement focused on the establishment of a unified quality assurance system to improve traceability, efficiency and competitiveness across the livestock value chain.
Reigans also disclosed that discussions were held on potential funding opportunities from the to support livestock processing operations and expansion in the country.
He further highlighted challenges encountered in obtaining visas for expatriates working on the ABIS Mega Livestock Processing Facility project, calling for streamlined processes to ease project implementation in the FCT.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development was recently created by the administration of President as part of broader reforms aimed at modernising livestock production, reducing farmer-herder conflicts and attracting investments into Nigeria’s livestock economy.
