The Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, has stated that for the livestock sector to reach its full economic potential, production must be connected seamlessly to processing, markets, and consumers.
A statement issued on Friday noted that the minister spoke in Abuja at a dialogue for the transformation of the livestock sector and the inauguration of ABIS Livestock Academy which would serve as a centre for technical knowledge transfer. He also commended ABIS Group for its foresight and commitment in organising the twin events.
The dialogue featured expert submissions, paper presentations and an interactive session. The statement quoted the minister as saying: “In essence, the grazing reserve and the abattoir are two ends of the same vision. At one end, we are ensuring that animals are raised sustainably, in a way that preserves the environment, prevents conflict and enhances productivity. On the other hand, we are guaranteeing that the meat and by-products from those animals are processed under hygienic, world-class conditions that meet international standards. Between these two ends lies the promise of a value chain that creates jobs, empowers youth and women, drives industrial growth, and secures Nigeria’s place in the global livestock market.”
The minister described the ABIS initiative as invaluable, adding: “By investing in the modernisation of abattoirs, cold storage systems and structured meat distribution, ABIS is providing the critical link that transforms raw livestock production into high-quality products that are safe, branded and competitive both locally and globally. Nigeria cannot remain a nation that sells live animals while others capture the wealth in processing.”
In his keynote address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NIRSAL, Sa’aad Hamidu, noted that the potential in the livestock sector was immense but yet to be fully tapped. He cited statistics of the support that NIRSAL had provided and continued to provide to key players in the livestock sector, including ABIS Group.
The NIRSAL boss said the launch of the ABIS Livestock Academy was very significant.
“By equipping our farmers, herders, and value chain actors with technical know-how, practical tools, and an innovation mindset, the ABIS Academy can transform human potential into measurable productivity,” he said.
In his contribution, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, reaffirmed the present administration’s commitment to the betterment of the livestock sector.
According to the Chairman and Chief Executive of ABIS, Emmanuel Nelson Usman, the ABIS Livestock Academy, is a national platform dedicated to technical training, certification, and institutional knowledge transfer in the livestock value chain.
ABIS Group is a Nigerian integrated agro-allied conglomerate revolutionising the livestock value chain. Its operational Lagos Plant processes 220 cattle and 3,000 poultry daily.
