Nigeria’s Livestock Sector Poised for Transformation as NIRSAL Launches Training to Tap $2.5bn FDI Deal

Nigeria is making bold strides toward becoming a global powerhouse in meat production, as NIRSAL Plc—backed by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development—launches a Feedlot Management Training Program designed to unlock the country’s livestock potential and prepare value chain actors for a $2.5 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) from global meatpacking giant, JBS.

The training, which officially kicked off in Abuja, comes on the heels of a landmark deal secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, positioning Nigeria to benefit from the construction of six modern meat processing plants nationwide—two of which will focus exclusively on beef. These facilities are expected to create a surge in demand for high-quality, locally sourced feedstock, opening a new era for cattle producers, processors, and marketers.

“This is not just another training,” said Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc. “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. We are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world.”

The program is part of NIRSAL’s broader agenda to transform livestock farming into a high-value, export-ready industry. By combining technical capacity-building, value chain development, and innovative financial support models, NIRSAL is working to close long-standing structural gaps in Nigeria’s livestock ecosystem.

Participants in the inaugural cohort include representatives from key institutions and industry bodies such as:

• Federal Ministry of Livestock Development
• 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.

Shekamang Ayuba, Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development at the Ministry of Livestock Development and one of the program’s attendees, praised the initiative, calling it “eye-opening and apt,” and urged its expansion across all states.

Beyond the JBS deal, domestic companies such as ABIS Group are also increasing their footprint in Nigeria’s meat value chain, creating further demand for skilled producers and modern infrastructure.

With its vast livestock resources but persistent challenges—from outdated rearing methods to inadequate financing—Nigeria’s livestock sector has long been underutilized. NIRSAL’s intervention aims to change that through:

• Technical training for improved animal husbandry
• Risk-sharing facilities to unlock private lending
• Value chain coordination, and
• Strategic partnerships between government and the private sector.

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About NIRSAL Plc:
A non-bank financial institution wholly owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria, NIRSAL Plc was established in 2013 to transform Nigeria’s agriculture by de-risking the sector and making it more attractive to commercial finance. To date, NIRSAL has facilitated over ₦250 billion into agricultural value chains and continues to lead agribusiness transformation in Nigeria.

With targeted programs like this, Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a major player in the global meat market has taken a significant leap forward.