Subhead: Abuja facility to process 1,000 bulls, 3,000 small ruminants daily
The Federal Government has announced plans to end uncontrolled livestock slaughtering across Nigeria as part of efforts to modernise the red meat industry and position the country for the export market.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this on Thursday in Kaduna at the launch of Olam Agri’s TruValue Cattle Feed, a beef and dairy concentrate feed.
Maiha said the government had commenced the development of modern abattoirs and would require animals meant for the market to pass through feedlots and meet prescribed standards before slaughter.
He said the policy would ensure that livestock slaughtering is carried out in controlled and hygienic environments.
“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,” he said.
The minister disclosed that groundbreaking ceremonies had been conducted for two abattoirs and a mini abattoir in the Offa axis of Kwara State.
He added that another facility under construction in Abuja would have the capacity to process 1,000 bulls and 3,000 small ruminants daily.
According to Maiha, the development of feedlots, modern slaughter facilities, meat processing plants and cold-chain infrastructure would help Nigeria produce quality, traceable meat for domestic consumption and export.
He said animals including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and camels would be required to pass through feedlots, with standards introduced and enforced across the value chain.
The minister also identified inadequate feed supply as one of the major challenges limiting livestock productivity in Nigeria, saying it was also contributing to farmer-herder conflicts.
“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,” Maiha said.
He explained that balanced feed could improve weight gain, reduce finishing periods and increase profitability for livestock farmers, particularly when combined with quality fodder, clean water and proper animal husbandry.
Maiha said Nigeria also had potential markets for its red meat in the Gulf, Middle East and Egypt, stressing the need to improve production and quality standards to take advantage of the opportunities.
“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,” he said.
The minister said the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, approved by the National Economic Council, seeks to increase the livestock sector’s contribution to the economy from $32 billion to $74 billion within 10 years.
He added that the planned Nigerian Livestock Economic Advancement Programme, N-LEAP, would bring together producers, financiers, insurers, breeders, aggregators and marketers to strengthen the livestock value chain.
On the Federal Government’s proposed Livestock Development Centres, Maiha said the initiative was not aimed at taking land from states or communities.
He explained that states would determine the livestock value chains suitable for their ecological zones and voluntarily provide land after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Representing Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, the Special Assistant on Land Resources, Umar Ismail, described the launch of TruValue cattle feed as a potential turning point for Nigeria’s livestock industry.
Ismail said Olam Agri had invested $150 million in Nigeria since entering the feed business nine years ago, with operations covering poultry and fish feed production.
He said the cattle sector remained largely traditional and was now ready for greater investment and modernisation.
Earlier, Olam Agri Vice President, Agriculture, Sameer Wadhera, said Nigeria would need 115 per cent more beef and 575 per cent more milk by 2050 to meet the needs of its projected population of nearly 400 million.
Wadhera said Nigeria, with about 24 million cattle, has the largest cattle herd in West Africa and the fourth largest in Africa.
He described the livestock industry as a “sleeping giant” that must be transformed to meet rising demand and reduce dependence on imports.
“We are projected to have a population of close to 400 million by 2050. With this population increase, we will need to feed people, and we will need a minimum of 115 per cent more beef in the country, 575 per cent more milk in the country,” he said.
