Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced a $100 million livestock offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank to supply the Middle East.
This deal, unveiled at the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025, was a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s non-oil export ambitions and shows Niger’s emerging role in global protein supply chains.
The livestock deal will start with an initial $10 million investment, marking an exciting step forward for Nigeria’s export market as it moves beyond relying mainly on oil. Governor Bago explained that this partnership comes amid escalating demand resulting from geopolitical and environmental challenges in the Sahel and Sudan, which have intensified the need for reliable livestock supplies across the Middle East.
This opportunity represents an estimated $2.5 billion yearly market as Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries seek consistent and high-volume sources not only for meat but also for various animal by-products, skin, hooves, tripe, and blood, that all carry huge commercial worth.
In addition to this international collaboration, Niger State is deepening its cooperation with Lagos State. They unveiled plans to allocate 100,000 hectares of fertile farmland under what is dubbed the “Lagos Farm” project. This project aims to mechanize agriculture with irrigation and value-chain processing to cultivate rice, yams, beans, and livestock products tailored to Lagos’s vast consumer market.
Governor Bago stressed the modernization of livestock logistics as a priority, pledging to end the practice of transporting live animals long distances to Lagos. Instead, slaughtering and processing will take place at abattoirs in Mokwa, with frozen and packaged meat distributed directly to urban retail outlets. This shift is expected to reduce waste, lower conflicts between herders and farmers, and introduce streamlined cold-chain distribution supported by LNG-powered trucks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State reinforced the importance of this collaboration, stressing Lagos’s role as Nigeria’s commercial gateway and largest market consumer. The Lagos government has already contributed a ₦5 billion commitment as part of a ₦500 billion agreement aimed at scaling agricultural production through strategic partnerships and infrastructure investments such as port modernization and digital trade facilitation.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said,
This is a historic opportunity. The Saudi government has entrusted us with a $100 million livestock arrangement. They have requested the Nigerian Export and Import Bank to facilitate the first $10 million tranche. This venture is not merely about meat supply; every part of the animal holds value. We are building an entire ecosystem…on the Lagos collaboration, we are setting aside 100,000 hectares of farmland branded as ‘Lagos Farm’ to produce what Lagos needs with comparative advantages across crops and livestock – Bago
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said
Lagos is uniquely positioned as Nigeria’s commercial backbone. With Niger’s vast agricultural land, we are creating a sustainable supply chain that will stabilize food prices and boost non-oil exports.
This livestock export agreement and the concurrent strategic partnership between Niger and Lagos States shows Nigeria’s shift towards agricultural modernization and diversified economic growth. As Nigeria advances its non-oil export agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, such collaborative endeavors promise to enhance food security, create jobs, and elevate the country’s stature in global markets.
Leave a comment