Livestock Ministry Backs Multi-Billion Naira Feed Development Deal with Egypt

News in Brief:

-Nigeria partners with Egyptian investors to develop feed and pasture centres, addressing the country’s biggest productivity gap in livestock farming.

-The initiative aims to boost milk yields, create jobs, and modernise livestock nutrition through strategic government–private sector collaboration.

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, pledged the Federal Government’s full backing for a consortium of Egyptian investors planning to establish feed and pasture production centres across the country.

The Minister made this commitment during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja by representatives of Nutrivet Misr LLC (Egypt) and K.K. Kingdom Limited (Nigeria). He described livestock feed as the nation's 'biggest gap and greatest opportunity' in achieving sustainable livestock transformation.

The Key to Livestock Productivity

Maiha hailed the partnership as timely, noting that inadequate feed and poor animal nutrition remain major barriers to productivity in the livestock sector.

He explained that improved feeding and animal health management could significantly raise milk yield from one or two litres to as much as eight litres per day, a shift that could redefine Nigeria's dairy output and farmer income.

Government to Provide Policy and Land Support

Reaffirming the government's readiness to facilitate the project, the Minister promised a conducive policy environment and cooperation with state governments to establish demonstration farms and milk collection centres across Nigeria.

He also emphasised the inclusion of extension services, genetic conservation, and specialised feed formulations for small ruminants to ensure the initiative meets the country’s diverse livestock needs.

"Nigeria is Africa’s largest livestock market, and we must use this opportunity to strengthen our feed base, enhance productivity, and generate employment," Maiha said.

The visiting delegation, led by Alaa Ibrahim Mahmoud, Chairman of Nutrivet Misr, and Alhaji Khalifa Naziru Abdullahi, CEO of K.K. Kingdom Limited, expressed optimism about replicating their proven feed model in Nigeria.

They lauded the Minister’s vision and affirmed their commitment to establishing sustainable feed production hubs that would accelerate Nigeria’s livestock development and foster stronger agricultural ties between both countries.