Livestock: NIRSAL prepares actors to tap into $2.5bn FDI

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has commenced the training of livestock value chain actors on how to benefit from the $2. 5 billion Foreign Direct Investment, FDI from Brazilian protein giant, JBS.

 President Bola Tinubu signed the deal, earlier in the year, for the FDI from the Brazilians, who plan to establish poultry, beef and pork processing plants in parts of the country.

 NIRSAL said in Abuja, yesterday, that it has launched the training programme for various stakeholders in the livestock value chain to enable them take full advantage of the $2.5 billion coming in from the foreign investors.

 It said, the first cohort of the training programme, held in Abuja, “comes at a critical moment when Nigeria is stepping into the spotlight as a global meat investment destination of choice.

 “The JBS partnership will see six modern meat processing plants built across the country-with two dedicated to beef, ushering in increased demand for premium feedstock from local producers.”

Participants in the first cohort of the training programme were drawn from the Ministry of Livestock Development, the Agric Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors & Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPMAN), Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Maidoki Farms Ltd, and others.

 The Managing Director of NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, was quoted as saying, “This is not just another training; it is a targeted intervention aimed at creating bankable agribusinesses by improving feed formulation practices, reducing input waste, and optimizing livestock finishing cycles for increased market value.

 “As it is, we are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world. And this aligns directly with the Federal Government’s vision for an agriculturally empowered, export-ready nation.”