Groups demand suspension of proposed $2.5bn JSB livestock project

The federal government has been urged by a coalition of civil society organizations, farmers’ groups, and encore advocates to suspend the implementation of the proposed $2.5 billion investment by Brazilian meat giant JSB to establish six industrial livestock facilities across the country.

The different bodies made the call on Thursday, in Abeokuta, at a press conference and sensitization rally that transforming the country’s food system must be subjected to transparency, scientific scrutiny, accountability and meaningful public participation.

The program manager of the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network, Seyi Olawuyi, said the coalition was concerned about the project’s potential implications for food sovereignty, environmental sustainability, public health, rural livelihoods, and land rights.

He hinted that Nigeria was at a critical point in determining the future direction of its food system.

“Nigeria’s food system is at a defining moment. Decisions taken today regarding agriculture and food production will shape the country’s environmental sustainability, public health, rural livelihoods, food security, and food sovereignty for generations to come,” Olawuyi said.

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He expressed concern over what it described as the potential risks associated with large-scale industrial livestock production, including pressure on agricultural land, biodiversity, smallholder farmers, and local communities. 

The coalition also cited international controversies involving JBS and other industrial meat companies as reasons for demanding stronger environmental, social, and corporate safeguards.

The group further raised questions over reports that Niger State had pledged approximately 1.2 million hectares of land for livestock investment, arguing that such a large allocation could have far-reaching consequences for land governance, community rights, and the future of smallholder agriculture.

According to him, another major concern is the reported orientation of a significant proportion of the proposed production towards export markets. It questioned whether such an approach would primarily address Nigeria’s domestic food and nutrition needs or establish a production model that prioritizes external markets.

He also criticized what it described as the lack of publicly available evidence showing that comprehensive environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and meaningful consultations with relevant stakeholders had been completed.

On transparency, he said it had submitted Freedom of Information requests to relevant federal institutions and participating state governments seeking access to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), project implementation framework, environmental and social assessments, land allocation arrangements, investment incentives, and other documents relating to the proposed investment.

He alleged that the relevant authorities had yet to provide substantive responses to the requests.

He added that the continued non-disclosure of the documents could undermine public confidence and prevent citizens, independent experts, and affected communities from properly assessing the project’s potential consequences.

“Transparency is not an obstacle to investment; it is the foundation of responsible governance and sustainable development,” the coalition stated.