In a strategic push to elevate Nigeria’s position in the global meat market, NIRSAL Plc, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has launched a Feedlot Management Training Program to prepare livestock value chain players to benefit from a landmark $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal.
The investment, secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with global meat processing giant JBS, will see the establishment of six modern meat processing facilities across Nigeria—two of which will focus exclusively on beef. This development signals a rising demand for high-quality feedstock from local producers.
Kicking off in Abuja, the inaugural training cohort is timely, coming as Nigeria garners attention as a prime destination for meat industry investments. Speaking at the launch, NIRSAL Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, highlighted the strategic aim of the initiative:
> “This is more than just a training exercise. It’s a focused intervention designed to build bankable agribusinesses by enhancing feed formulation, minimizing input waste, and optimizing livestock finishing cycles to boost market value. We’re not just feeding Nigeria—we’re preparing to feed the world.”
The program is designed to increase local production of export-grade meat while enhancing the productivity and profitability of livestock producers nationwide.
While the JBS deal is the most high-profile in a wave of new investments in Nigeria’s livestock industry, it is not the only one. Homegrown firms like ABIS Group are also injecting capital into the sector, further increasing demand for top-tier feedstock and well-managed production systems.
Participants in the first round of training included representatives from the Ministry of Livestock Development, the Agriculture Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors & Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPMAN), the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Maidoki Farms Ltd, and others.
Shekamang Ayuba, Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development at the Ministry of Livestock Development—and a participant in the program—described the experience as “eye-opening and timely,” calling for the program’s expansion to other regions.
Nigeria’s livestock industry, long constrained by outdated methods, poor-quality feed, and limited financing, may be on the cusp of a transformation. NIRSAL’s approach is designed to close structural gaps through:
Technical capacity development
Risk-sharing incentives for financial institutions
Comprehensive value chain support
Strategic public-private partnerships
About NIRSAL
NIRSAL Plc is a non-bank financial institution wholly owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Established in 2013, it aims to de-risk and transform Nigerian agriculture by attracting commercial financing. To date, NIRSAL has facilitated over ₦250 billion in agricultural investments and continues to play a critical role in reshaping the country’s agribusiness landscape.