By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the ABIS Group to strengthen li...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the ABIS Group to strengthen livestock production and modern meat processing in the country.
Under the agreement, the state government, through its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics, will focus on cattle fattening, while the ABIS Livestock Processing Factory in Abuja will off-take the cattle for processing.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, popularly known as the Farmer Governor, disclosed this during a tour of the livestock processing facility in the nation’s capital, where he expressed satisfaction with the standard and capacity of the factory.
The governor noted that Niger State has the potential to fatten up to 365,000 cattle annually to supply the facility, describing the partnership as a significant step toward strengthening the livestock value chain and enhancing food security.
He also revealed that his administration is working toward establishing modern abattoir systems in strategic locations across the state to discourage the long-distance transportation of live cattle — a practice he said often leads to losses and inefficiencies in the livestock sector.
Governor Bago further disclosed that discussions are ongoing with governors from Nigeria’s Western region to collaborate on the development of a modern and integrated meat processing system that will benefit both producers and consumers.
Describing the ABIS livestock processing initiative as “a revolution in the livestock industry,” the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the partnership and supporting initiatives aimed at transforming livestock production in the country.
He also commended the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank–supported programme, for its continued support and shared vision for the development of the livestock sector.
Co-founder and Group Executive Director of ABIS Group, Iliyasu Gashinbaki, thanked the governor for the visit and for the state’s willingness to partner with the company. He noted that the group has closely followed the developmental strides of the Niger State administration and expressed optimism about the prospects of the collaboration.
Dr. Gashinbaki explained that the company’s long-term vision is to establish a network of livestock processing facilities across Nigeria, with plans already underway to expand operations to all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Also speaking during the visit, the Task Team Leader of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project at the World Bank, Chigozie Anyiro, said the project would significantly enhance livestock productivity, increase commercialisation, and help address the long-standing farmer–herder conflict through structured livestock development programmes.
Similarly, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, assured the Niger State Government of the project’s continued support to ensure the full development of the livestock sector in the state.
During the visit, the governor and his delegation toured several sections of the facility, including the slaughter chamber, abattoir, processing centre, storage facilities, specialised cold rooms, livestock academy, administrative block, and staff quarters, among others.
Governor Bago was accompanied on the tour by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman; the Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture, Abdullahi Adamu Mamagi; the Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Umar Sanda Rabe; and the Chairman of Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics, Sammy Adigun.
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