The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to establish an agro-industrial business hub in the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen Nigeria’s livestock value chain and attract investment into the sector.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Sen. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance during a high-level tripartite briefing and strategic engagement involving the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, ABIS Group, and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Abuja.
Maiha said the ministry would collaborate closely with the ABIS Group, L-PRES, and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed ABIS Mega Livestock Processing Facility in Abuja.
According to him, the partnership is expected to strengthen coordination across the livestock industry, improve processing capacity, and expand market access for pastoral communities.
The minister explained that the engagement followed the inclusion of the ABIS Group in Nigeria’s delegation to a regional training programme on pastoral market access, quality assurance, and inclusive contracting models held in Addis Ababa.
The programme was organised under the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources and the African Pastoral Market Development platform, bringing together participants from Somalia, Botswana, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Leader of the ABIS Group, Ambassador Emmanuel Usman, commended the ministry for facilitating the organisation’s participation in the international programme, describing it as an opportunity for knowledge exchange and regional collaboration in livestock development.
The National Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, also appreciated the ministry’s support for the training programme.
Speaking on behalf of the younger generation of the ABIS Group, the organisation’s General Manager, Mr Kujo Reigans, highlighted lessons from the programme, particularly in improving pastoral market systems, strengthening quality assurance frameworks, and promoting inclusive contracting within Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Reigans said stakeholders at the engagement discussed the need for a unified quality assurance system to improve efficiency, traceability, and competitiveness across the livestock value chain.
He added that discussions also focused on the establishment of structured outgrower schemes and possible financing opportunities through the Development Bank of Nigeria to support livestock processing operations and expand the Abuja facility.
The ABIS team also raised concerns over visa delays affecting expatriates involved in the livestock processing project and called for streamlined processes to support timely implementation of the proposed mega livestock processing hub.
