By The Federal Government has announced plans to bring an end to the slaughtering of animals in unregulated, open environments as part of a broader push to modernise Nigeria’s red meat industry and open doors to export markets.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed on Thursday in Kaduna during the official launch of Olam Agri’s TruValue Cattle Feed, a concentrate feed product for beef and dairy production.
Modern Abattoirs Take Centre Stage
Maiha said work has already begun on modern abattoirs across the country, with plans requiring that animals headed to market first pass through feedlots and meet defined standards before slaughter.
“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.
He revealed that groundbreaking ceremonies had already taken place for two abattoirs and a mini abattoir in the Offa area, alongside another facility under construction in Abuja designed to handle 1,000 bulls and 3,000 small ruminants each day.
According to the minister, combining feedlots, modern slaughter facilities, meat processing plants, and cold-chain systems would position Nigeria to produce traceable, export-grade meat for both local consumption and international markets.
“For them to meet the specification, these animals will have to pass through a feedlot, whether it’s a ram, a goat, a pig, a camel, or a bull. Standards have to be introduced, and this will be enforced,” Maiha said.
Feed Shortage Linked to Farmer-Herder Tensions
Maiha called the timing of the TruValue launch significant, pointing to the scarcity of quality, affordable animal feed as one of the biggest obstacles to livestock productivity and a contributing factor to ongoing farmer-herder conflicts.
He said a steady, year-round feed supply, whether sourced from fodder, crop residue, or concentrated feed, was essential to easing tensions, boosting animal output, and making livestock farming a viable business.
“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,” he said.
He added that properly balanced feed could accelerate weight gain, cut down finishing time, and lift profitability for farmers, especially when paired with quality fodder, clean water, and sound animal care practices.
Export Opportunities Beckon
The minister disclosed that Nigeria already has interested buyers for red meat exports across the Gulf region, the Middle East, and Egypt, urging the country to seize the opportunity by ramping up production and tightening quality standards.
“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. And I do believe the African market too is going to rely on us ultimately,” Maiha said.
He linked this ambition to the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which has secured approval from the National Economic Council and targets growing the livestock sector’s contribution from $32bn to $74bn over the next decade.
Maiha also pointed to the forthcoming Nigerian Livestock Economic Advancement Programme, describing it as a framework that would bring together producers, financiers, insurers, breeders, aggregators, and marketers into one functioning ecosystem.
Addressing Land Concerns
The minister moved to calm anxieties surrounding the Federal Government’s planned Livestock Development Centres, insisting the initiative does not involve seizing land from states or local communities.
He explained that individual states would decide which livestock value chains suit their ecological conditions and would voluntarily allocate land only after consulting with relevant stakeholders.
“No government, nobody, least of all under this present regime, is going to take land from anybody. The states decide what they want to do,” he said.
Kaduna State and Olam Agri Weigh In
Speaking on behalf of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, the Special Assistant on Land Resources, Umar Ismail, described the feed launch as a potential turning point for the country’s cattle feed sector, noting that Olam Agri’s involvement aligned with government efforts to turn livestock production into a major economic driver.
Ismail revealed that Olam Agri has invested $150m in Nigeria over nine years of operating in the feed business, spanning poultry and fish feed production. He noted that while the poultry industry has grown substantially due to the company’s involvement, the cattle sector has remained largely traditional and is now positioned for transformation.
“But I think it is now ripe for an intervention. It is ripe for taking this big leap forward, organising itself, and becoming a powerhouse for future economic development for a lot of traditional farmers across different parts of the country, especially in Northern Nigeria,” he said.
Population Growth to Drive Demand
Vice President, Agriculture, at Olam Agri, Sameer Wadhera, projected that Nigeria would need 115% more beef and 575% more milk by 2050 in order to meet demand from a population expected to approach 400 million.
Wadhera noted that Nigeria, home to roughly 24 million cattle, holds the largest cattle herd in West Africa and the fourth largest across the continent, describing the livestock sector as a “sleeping giant” still waiting to be fully activated.
He warned that without a significant boost in productivity to match population growth, Nigeria risks becoming increasingly reliant on imports to close its protein supply gap.
“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% more beef in the country, 575% more milk in the country,” he said.
