Get Guardian on GoogleThe Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has called on federal and state governments to increase investment in the poultry industry, provide farmers with affordable long-term financing and strengthen security around farms to boost domestic food production.
The Chairman of PAN, Southwest Zone and National Vice-President, Southwest, Rev. Oluleye Gideon Olugbeja, made the appeal on Tuesday at the opening of the Nigeria Poultry Show 2026, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The three-day exhibition,which ended yesterday, brought together poultry farmers, investors, manufacturers, financial institutions, development partners, and exhibitors from Nigeria and other countries.
More than 100 vendors and exhibitors from countries including China, India, Belgium and Germany participated in the event, showcasing technologies, exchanging ideas and exploring investment opportunities across the poultry value chain.
Speaking on the challenges confronting the industry, Olugbeja urged governments to involve poultry farmers and other stakeholders in developing policies affecting the sector.
He warned that policies formulated without adequate consultation could undermine the operations of farmers and discourage investment.
“When they are making or fashioning out their livestock policies or poultry policies, they should consult us. There are some of the poultry policies that are inimical to our operations. We are encouraging government to please carry us along in some of these policy formulations,” he said.
He identified limited access to finance as another major constraint, arguing that affordable, long-term loans would enable farmers to expand their businesses, increase production and contribute more effectively to national food security.
Olugbeja also urged the government to treat food security as an integral part of national security, saying investment in agricultural production should receive the same attention as spending on conventional security.
“Food security doesn’t just come by mouth. Just as you are pumping money into external security and securing our borders, that is the way we should also pump money into securing food within our entire country”.
He expressed concern over insecurity, particularly kidnapping, which he said had forced some farmers to abandon their farms and agricultural investments.
The PAN leader called on federal and state governments to improve the protection of farmers and their investments, warning that insecurity could discourage participation in agriculture when the country needed to increase domestic food production.
He said the poultry industry had considerable potential to create jobs, stimulate agricultural industrialisation and improve access to animal protein if the government provided the necessary support.
Representing the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Mr Richard Umbara said the Federal Government recognised the importance of poultry production to the economy and was committed to working with industry stakeholders to address the sector’s challenges.
He identified the shortage of day-old chicks as one of the immediate concerns facing producers, noting that some farmers waited several months after making payments before receiving supplies.
Umbara said the ministry, working with PAN, was pursuing plans to import about 60 million hatchable eggs as an immediate intervention to ease the shortage and reduce the waiting period from approximately four months to one month.
He said the measure was expected to make production more predictable and enable farmers to plan their businesses with greater certainty.
According to him, access to day-old chicks was fundamental to poultry production, adding that shortages at the hatchery level affected the entire value chain.
He also disclosed that the government was working towards introducing grandparent stock to strengthen domestic breeding capacity, with a long-term target of supporting the production of about 262 million day-old chicks annually.
The initiative, he said, would strengthen the country’s poultry breeding infrastructure and reduce producers’ vulnerability to disruptions in chick supplies.
On animal health, Umbara said the ministry was working with relevant stakeholders to address avian influenza and other diseases affecting poultry farms.
He acknowledged reports of disease outbreaks in parts of the country and stressed the need for stronger surveillance, early reporting, reliable diagnosis and effective biosecurity measures.
He said controlling poultry diseases required coordinated efforts involving government agencies, veterinary professionals, hatcheries, farmers and industry associations.
While acknowledging the importance of biosecurity, he said it might not always be sufficient to prevent infections, particularly where diseases could be introduced through wild birds and other external factors.
He added that the ministry was considering additional interventions, including vaccination where necessary, in consultation with experts and stakeholders.
Umbara said the minister remained committed to supporting poultry producers, adding that his experience as a farmer gave him an understanding of the challenges confronting investors in the industry.
On financing, he said the Federal Government was working towards providing single-digit interest loans with a seven-year moratorium for businesses in the livestock sector.
He said the ministry was exploring different financing arrangements, including mezzanine and blended finance, credit guarantees, insurance and risk-sharing mechanisms, to improve access to affordable capital.
Umbara also disclosed that the Bank of Agriculture was undergoing recapitalisation as part of efforts to strengthen financing for agricultural businesses.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Nigeria Poultry Show 2026, Dr Olalekan Odunsi, urged participants to use the exhibition to identify opportunities, adopt modern technologies and improve their businesses.
He said the theme of the event, “Building a Sustainable and Resilient Poultry Industry in Challenging Times”, reflected the difficulties confronting producers and the need for practical solutions, investment and collaboration.
Odunsi recalled that the exhibition began more than two decades ago with basic structures made from bamboo and palm fronds at the Cultural Centre.
