In a game-changing move aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s livestock sector, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has announced a bold plan to halt the direct export of live cows and goats to Lagos and Ogun. Instead, meat will now be processed locally at Mokwa and delivered frozen and packaged to Southwest markets, heralding a new era of value addition, hygiene improvement, and economic uplift for local farmers .
Strategic Value-Addition at the Source
Speaking at the First Bank 2025 Agric and Export Expo in Lagos, Governor Bago underscored the importance of shifting from raw commodity exportation to finished product delivery. “We will process our meat in Niger so that our farmers reap the full benefits of their labour. This way, the value and pricing will be in our hands,” he emphasized .
This initiative aligns with broader nationwide calls for greater food processing infrastructure to curb the economic losses associated with raw commodity exportation .
Boosting Infrastructure: Mokwa as the Processing Hub
The project leverages an envisioned abattoir in the Jebba–Mokwa axis, designed as a regional meat processing hub to supply not only Lagos and Ogun but also neighboring states .
Multi-Faceted Benefits:
Improved Hygiene & Reduced Waste
Eliminating the transit of live animals prevents spoilage and unsanitary conditions in southern markets .
Economic Benefits for Local Farmers
Processing within the state ensures farmers capture greater portions of the livestock value chain, from pricing to packaging .
Job Creation & Sector Growth
The initiative is expected to create numerous roles in processing, cold-chain logistics, and meat distribution, laying the groundwork for Niger’s industrialization in agriculture .
Alignment with Broader Reform Agenda
This bold plan is one among several recent efforts by Governor Bago to transform agriculture in Niger State:
Land reclamation, grazing reserve demarcation, and modern ranching infrastructure .
Partnerships with global investors—including Brazilian and Chinese agribusinesses—for agro-processing and livestock development .
Institutional backing through the establishment of ministries dedicated to livestock and nomadic affairs, plus specialized development committees .
Why It Matters Now
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy away from oil, such strategic livestock reforms can:
Enhance food security and nutrition standards across the Southwest.
Empower local value chains, ensuring that prosperity circulates within the state.
Support export readiness, with processed products gaining access to global markets whenever market reforms and logistics align.
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