Cross River State Government has pledged to partner the Federal Government to transform the state into a major livestock production and export hub following the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum in Ikom Local Government Area.

The commitment was made on Wednesday when Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, received the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during the inauguration of the border facility designed to certify the health of livestock entering the country and curb the spread of transboundary animal diseases.

Otu said the state was positioning itself to become a key player in Nigeria’s livestock value chain through investments in ranching, transportation infrastructure and export logistics.

He disclosed that the state was already engaging prospective investors for the Obudu Ranch redevelopment, which is being transformed into a world-class tourism and livestock destination.

The governor also revealed that the cargo airport near Obudu Ranch is about 85 per cent completed, with the first aircraft expected to land in December 2026. According to him, commercial flights from Abuja to Bukalo Airport and from Lagos to the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027.

He said the airport would provide livestock farmers with easier access to international markets while complementing the state’s broader trade corridor through the Calabar seaport and airport.

He added that the government would continue to engage livestock and poultry farmers to maximise opportunities in the sector.

Maiha described the Mfum facility as the first of 12 Livestock Control Posts planned along Nigeria’s international borders to strengthen disease surveillance and protect the country’s livestock industry.

He said the facilities would ensure that only healthy animals enter Nigeria from neighbouring countries, thereby reducing the risk of transboundary animal diseases and safeguarding public health and the economy.

The minister said the Federal Government was also assessing livestock infrastructure in Cross River, including Obudu Ranch, as part of efforts to attract private investment into the sector.

He noted that the state possesses the climate, land and strategic location needed to become a major red meat production and export centre in the South-South.

According to him, plans are underway to establish a modern abattoir capable of processing about 500 cattle daily, a development he said could generate up to 10,000 jobs across livestock production, feed manufacturing, transportation, cold-chain logistics and meat processing.

Maiha also disclosed that the ministry intends to encourage investment in fodder production, including Napier grass, alfalfa and ryegrass, to meet growing domestic demand and explore export opportunities. He added that the Obudu livestock development programme would include facilities for cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and dairy production in partnership with tertiary institutions.

The minister said the Federal Government’s livestock development strategy is aimed at diversifying the economy, strengthening food security, creating employment and positioning Cross River as a strategic gateway for livestock exports through land, air and sea.