Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced a transformative shift in Niger State’s livestock trade, revealing plans to stop the direct supply of live cows and goats to markets in Lagos and Ogun states.
Instead, the state will process meat locally at Mokwa and deliver frozen, packaged products to Southwest markets, aiming to enhance hygiene, reduce waste, and boost economic value for local farmers.
Speaking at the First Bank 2025 Agric and Export Expo in Lagos, Governor Bago emphasized the need for value addition in agriculture to curb economic losses from exporting raw commodities.
“We have started looking at the possibility of stopping the supply of live cows to Lagos markets. We will terminate supplies of cows and goats at Mokwa, process the meat in Niger State, and deliver frozen products to markets in Lagos and Ogun,” Bago stated.
He noted that this initiative would prevent animal waste from littering southern states and ensure farmers fully benefit from the livestock value chain.
The governor highlighted a $100 million offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank to supply livestock to the Middle East, underscoring the potential for processed meat exports.
“This is not just about meat. The tripe, blood, skin, hooves—every part of the animal has value. We’re building the entire ecosystem,” Bago said, adding that Lagos’s support with LNG-powered cold-chain trucks would modernize meat distribution.
The move is expected to improve meat quality, create jobs in Niger’s processing industry, and align with national efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy from oil dependency.
Bago urged financial institutions to support such initiatives, warning that exporting raw commodities keeps nations “perpetually broke.”
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