In a bold move to position Nigeria as a leading supplier of quality beef to domestic and international markets, NIRSAL Plc, with support from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has launched a Feedlot Management Training Program. This initiative aims to equip key actors across Nigeria’s livestock value chain to effectively leverage the $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal recently secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with global meatpacking giant, JBS.
The inaugural cohort of the training program was hosted in Abuja and comes at a pivotal time as Nigeria steps into the global spotlight as an emerging destination for meat industry investment. Under the JBS partnership, six modern meat processing plants are expected to be constructed across the country—two of which will focus specifically on beef production—thereby driving significant demand for premium feedstock from local producers.
Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, outlined the strategic importance of the program: “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. We are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world. This aligns directly with the Federal Government’s vision for an agriculturally empowered, export-ready nation.”
Among its key objectives, the program is focused on fostering the production of export-grade meat, while enhancing the productivity and profitability of Nigeria’s livestock producers.
While the $2.5 billion deal with JBS is currently the most prominent investment in Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector, it is not the only one. Local players like ABIS Group are also injecting substantial capital into the meat value chain—further increasing the need for high-quality, locally sourced feedstock.
Participants in the first cohort included representatives from the Federal 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, among others.
Shekamang Ayuba, Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development at the Ministry—and a participant himself—described the training as “eye-opening and apt,” and called for its expansion across the country.
Nigeria’s livestock sector, rich in potential but long constrained by outdated practices, low-quality feed, and insufficient financing, now stands on the brink of genuine transformation. NIRSAL’s intervention aims to unlock this potential through a holistic approach that includes:
- Technical capacity-building
- Risk-sharing incentives for lenders
- End-to-end value chain support
- Strategic public-private sector collaborations
With this initiative, Nigeria takes a significant step toward becoming a globally recognized player in the livestock and meat processing industry.