FG Begins Modern Abattoir Project in Jos to Boost Livestock Value Chain

News in Brief

—The Federal Government has begun construction of a modern abattoir in Jos, Plateau State, as part of efforts to improve meat processing, food safety and value addition in Nigeria’s livestock sector.

—Backed by the World Bank-supported L-PRES programme, the project is expected to upgrade the Jos Main Abattoir into a regional livestock processing hub for Plateau and surrounding states.

The Federal Government has begun building a modern 500-bull-per-day capacity abattoir project in Jos, Plateau State, as part of a wider push to improve Nigeria’s meat industry. 

The project, which is being positioned as an ultra-modern facility to strengthen the livestock value chain and raise standards in meat processing, is expected to serve as a major upgrade to the state’s livestock infrastructure once completed.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during the groundbreaking ceremony in Jos. He said the facility was designed to provide a modern meat processing environment that meets international standards, while also supporting the government’s plan to develop a competitive livestock industry capable of creating jobs and attracting investment.

Food Safety and Value Addition

Maiha said the project would improve food safety, boost value addition and open up fresh opportunities across the livestock sector. According to him, the abattoir would operate as an integrated livestock processing centre, where hides, skins, bones, blood, and fats would be converted into commercial products such as leather goods, fertilisers, animal feed ingredients and biogas.

He also said Plateau State was selected for the project because of its strong agricultural base, existing livestock activities, favourable climate and the presence of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom. The ministry has previously described Plateau as a strategic location for livestock transformation because of its long history in Nigeria’s livestock development space.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented at the event, described the partnership between the Plateau State Government and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as an important step towards unlocking the state’s livestock potential. He said Plateau was working to promote ranching and modern livestock production systems as part of efforts to turn the sector into a driver of economic growth.

Adopting International Standards

The National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, said the facility would meet international standards in hygiene, animal welfare, food safety and environmental management. He added that the project would improve meat quality, support job creation, attract investment and strengthen the livestock value chain.

The project is being funded through the World Bank-supported L-PRES programme and will be implemented by the Plateau State Government, according to the available project notice. The contract documents show that the Jos Main Abattoir is being remodelled into an ultra-modern abattoir under the project’s financing structure.

When completed, the facility is expected to serve as a regional hub for livestock processing, storage, distribution and value-added meat production. Government officials say the development aligns with broader efforts to make Nigeria’s livestock industry more productive, more hygienic and more commercially viable.