Niger govt to build abattoir for livestock production, supply southwest states

Niger State Government has disclosed plans to go into partnership with western parts of the country to build an abattoir between Jebba and Mokwa for the production of livestock meats for supply to Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun states

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State made the disclosure when he received a team from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES) in the state to assess the implementation of the L-PRES project in the state.

Bago, who was represented by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the state was already talking with Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Osun to supply them with large livestock meats.

“Niger is taking its rightful place as a food producer for Nigeria and beyond using its arable land, we realised the need to use our assets to move ahead.

“We have embarked on gigantic agriculture projects because agriculture is the only way out, so we need World Bank support for that,” he said.

He noted that the abattoir, when established in the Jebba-Mokwa axis of the state, would become a hub for livestock production where western states could easily get their meat.

The governor commended the World Bank for various intervention programmes in the state and pledged to provide necessary support to the team while on an assessment tour.

Earlier, the National Project Coordinator (L-PRES), Malam Sanusi Abubakar, said the team was in the state to assess the level of implementation of the L-PRES project and review the 2024 annual work plan in the state.

He said the L-PRES project commenced six years ago to strengthen the resilience of livelihoods affected by farmer-herder conflict in some parts of the country.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Livestock in Niger State, Mr Mami Ija, said the L-PRES project was aimed at improving livestock productivity, enhancing resilience, and promoting the commercialization of animal health nutrition.

He added that the project seeks to contribute to poverty reduction, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agriculture development in participating states.

L-PRES is a six-year project with a development objective to improve livestock productivity, resilience, and commercialization of selected value chains and to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to an eligible crisis or emergency.

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