Nigeria’s livestock sector poised for transformation with $2.5bn FDI deal
Nigeria is taking bold steps to transform its livestock sector with the launch of a Feedlot Management Training Programme spearheaded by the Nigerian Institution for Strategic Research and Development (NIRSAL) Plc in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
The initiative was launched in Abuja as part of a broader strategic effort to prepare Nigerian livestock producers to meet both domestic consumption needs and international beef standards. It is underpinned by a landmark $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal with global meat industry leader, JBS, which plans to establish six modern meat processing plants across the country—two of which will specialize in premium beef processing.
The training, targeting livestock value chain actors, seeks to upskill participants in feed formulation, livestock finishing, and business model optimization. The aim is to ensure that Nigerian livestock producers can supply export-grade beef while enhancing their productivity and profitability.
The Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, described the programme as a shift from generic training to a bankability-focused intervention. He said, “We are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world.”
Participants at the first session included officials from key government bodies and industry associations such as NACDPMAN, AUFCDN, and private sector players like Maidoki Farms Ltd. The Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development at the ministry, Mr. Shekamang Ayuba, lauded the training as timely and impactful, calling for its nationwide rollout.
The programme dovetails into NIRSAL’s broader strategy that combines technical training, value chain financing, and risk-sharing mechanisms—designed to address the livestock sector’s historic challenges of poor-quality feed, outdated practices, and access to credit.
In addition to the JBS deal, local agribusiness groups like ABIS Group are also investing heavily in the meat value chain, signaling a growing market for high-quality feedstock and modernized livestock operations in Nigeria.
Source- Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
As Nigeria lays the groundwork for a modernized, export-driven livestock industry, the Feedlot Management Training Programme stands out as a strategic enabler. Beyond training, it signals a turning point where policy ambition meets operational execution. For agri-food stakeholders, this initiative presents significant opportunities—but also demands coordinated action and investment-readiness.
Strategic Implications for Stakeholders:
- Feedlot as the New Frontier:
Feedlot systems are at the heart of premium beef production. Nigeria’s move toward feedlot training not only boosts meat quality but signals readiness to comply with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards—critical for export acceptance. - Bankability and Investment Readiness:
With a $2.5B JBS deal in play, producers must operate as agribusinesses—not informal herders. By embedding feed optimization, reduced input waste, and better finishing practices into training, the programme prepares participants to attract investment and access commercial financing. - Quality Feedstock:
Export-grade meat depends not just on genetics, but on what livestock consumes. This presents a major opportunity for local feed millers, maize and soybean producers, and veterinary service providers to position themselves along this growing value chain. - Decentralized Impact:
While the launch was in Abuja, the broader success of this initiative hinges on scale. States with large grazing corridors (e.g., Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ogun) should actively lobby to host training hubs and attract offshoot investments from companies like JBS. - Policy and Coordination:
With both federal ministries and private players involved, this is a good model of inter-agency and public-private coordination. However, real-time data on livestock productivity, feed cost, and animal health must inform subsequent training phases. - Job Creation and Food Security:
Modernizing livestock farming can deliver thousands of new jobs across transport, processing, and export logistics. It also ensures a more reliable supply of safe, affordable protein in local markets.
Conclusion:
The Feedlot Management Training Programme isn’t just a capacity-building exercise—it’s Nigeria’s bid to become Africa’s leading exporter of beef. For this to happen, stakeholders across finance, input supply, extension services, and local government must align and move with urgency.
