The federal government has commenced a capacity-building initiative to enable livestock value chain actors in Nigeria to benefit from the recently secured $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The deal secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with global meatpacking firm JBS of Brazil is part of efforts to position Nigeria as a leading supplier of quality beef in local and international markets.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) in collaboration with the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
At the core of this initiative is the Feedlot Management Training Programme launched by NIRSAL, which aims to strengthen technical competence, improve agribusiness practices, and align domestic beef production with international standards.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NIRSAL said the programme is designed “to address structural gaps in the livestock sector through a combination of technical training, risk-sharing incentives for lenders, end-to-end value chain support, and strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors.”
The training commenced with the first cohort of participants drawn from key institutions and stakeholders in the livestock sector, including the Ministry of Livestock Development, the Agricultural Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors & Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPMAN), Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Maidoki Farms Ltd, among others.
Speaking at the opening session of the training in Abuja, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, said the programme is part of a broader strategy to create commercially viable and export-oriented agribusinesses by enhancing feed formulation, minimizing input waste, and optimizing livestock fattening cycles to achieve premium market value.
“This is not just another training; it is a targeted intervention aimed at creating bankable agribusinesses,” he said. “As it is, we are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world. And this aligns directly with the Federal Government’s vision for an agriculturally empowered, export-ready nation.”
Mr. Hamidu noted that Nigeria is on the verge of emerging as a prime destination for global meat investment, with the JBS deal representing a major milestone in this transformation.
Under the agreement signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, six ultra-modern meat processing plants are to be built across the country, two of which will focus specifically on beef processing. This development is expected to stimulate significant demand for high-quality feedstock from local livestock producers, many of whom lack the training or financial support needed to meet the standards required for export.
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The Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development in the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Shekamang Ayuba, who was also among the trainees, described the programme as “eye-opening and apt,” and called for its rollout across all geopolitical zones to ensure widespread impact.
Beyond the JBS partnership, NIRSAL disclosed that the meat value chain in Nigeria is attracting increased private sector interest. Notably, ABIS Group, a domestic firm, is also investing heavily in livestock development, further boosting the sector’s capacity to meet both domestic consumption and export targets.
NIRSAL noted that the livestock sub-sector in Nigeria has long been constrained by poor-quality feed, outdated rearing techniques, and limited access to finance. However, with focused interventions like the Feedlot Management Training Programme, the sector could experience a long-awaited transformation.
“Nigeria’s livestock sector, rich in potential but hampered by outdated practices, poor-quality feed, and limited financing, stands on the brink of genuine transformation,” the agency stated.