By Vivian Emoni
The Federal Government says private investment in livestock processing, leather manufacturing and fodder production can strengthen local industries and expand Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings.
Mr Idi Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the AGROMEQA Expo 2026, with the theme, “Technology and Investment for Agro-Expo”.
The expo, which was organised by ACCI’s Agricultural Trade Group in collaboration with JMT Plus Farms and Agro-Allied, aimed to promote mechanisation, innovation and export development.
Maiha said that Nigeria’s large domestic market offered opportunities for livestock businesses to expand production and meet growing demand.
He emphasised the need for animal identification, disease surveillance, laboratory testing and traceability systems to improve product safety and meet international export standards.
The minister cited Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as examples of African countries achieving significant progress in dairy and red meat production through investment and effective organisation.
He also identified leather manufacturing as a major opportunity, noting that Nigeria supplies leather to European and Asian markets.
According to him, an earlier assessment estimated the industry’s potential value at over one billion dollars.
The minister urged investors to move beyond semi-processed leather into finished products, including footwear, bags and upholstery, through improved hide preservation, modern tanning equipment and advanced manufacturing technologies.
He said that the fodder production was an investment opportunity that could create more employment opportunities across the country.
According to him, investments in fodder, meat processing and leather production could reinforce one another, while an abattoir processing about 500 cattle daily could support an estimated 10,000 direct jobs, depending on its operating model.
“Livestock investment can improve food security, conserve foreign exchange, expand non-oil exports and create opportunities for women and young people.
“Also, investors should provide capital, technology and expertise,’’ he said.
Maiha reaffirmed the ministry`s commitment to strengthening animal health, setting standards and improving the investment climate, while pledging to partner with industry stakeholders to develop Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Dr Olasetemi Thompson, Vice-President, ACCI on Agriculture and Livestock, said the expo would help address insecurity by creating opportunities through agriculture and livestock.
Thompson, who is also the Chairman, JMT Plus Group of Companies, said the expo would encourage productive use of farmlands and reducing the vulnerability of communities to criminal activities.
“The initiative is the maiden edition of the programme and has been designed to become an annual event,’’ he said.
Dr Jani Ibrahim, President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture
(NACCIMA), called for increased private-sector investment in agricultural mechanisation, processing and export infrastructure.
Ibrahim said that the effort would strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil exports and create job opportunities.
He said Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached a record 6.1 billion dollars in 2025, up from 5.46 billion dollars in 2024, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
He said that agricultural commodities contributed significantly, with cocoa beans generating about 1.99 billion dollars, cashew nuts 456.9 million dollars and sesame seeds 300.3 million dollars.
According to him, investments in tractors, harvesters, irrigation and precision agriculture will improve productivity, while machinery leasing could make modern equipment accessible to smallholder farmers.
He identified inadequate storage, processing and transportation infrastructure as major concerns, and called for investments in drying facilities, cold rooms, warehouses and food-processing plants to reduce post-harvest losses.
Ibrahim urged banks, investors and development finance institutions to expand equipment leasing, warehouse-receipt financing and other suitable funding arrangements to support farmers and agribusinesses across agricultural value chains.
He emphasised the need for investment in quality assurance, certification, traceability technology and logistics to help Nigerian exporters meet international standards, reduce product rejections and secure long-term supply contracts.
He called on government, investors, financial institutions and technology providers to strengthen collaboration to make agriculture a modern, technology-driven, export-oriented industry capable of generating employment, increasing export earnings and supporting economic diversification.
The Executive Director, Operations, NIRSAL, Mr Ewaen Imohe, said Nigeria had fewer than one tractor per 1,000 hectares of arable land.
Imohe emphasised the urgent need for mechanisation, appropriate financing and improved agricultural productivity.
He said that clustering farmers into cooperatives would improve access to mechanisation, irrigation and financing, adding that NIRSAL’s Land Bank Initiative had mapped over 100,000 hectares for commercial agricultural production.
He urged stakeholders to develop innovative financing models and digital platforms to improve equipment utilisation, reduce costs and strengthen agricultural exports, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).(NAN)
VOE/KAE
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Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
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