In a move aimed at improving hygiene, reducing waste, and creating greater economic value for local farmers in Niger State, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said plans are on top gear to overhaul Niger State’s livestock trade by ending the direct transportation of live cows and goats to Lagos and Ogun markets.
Speaking at the First Bank 2025 Agric and Export Expo in Lagos, Governor Bago said instead of direct live transportation of livestock, meat will be processed at Mokwa and delivered frozen and packaged to the Southwest.
He stressed the importance of adding value to agricultural products rather than exporting them raw. “We are considering ending the supply of live cows to Lagos. Processing will take place in Mokwa, and the meat will be transported frozen to Lagos and Ogun,” he said.
According to him, the initiative will also curb environmental issues caused by animal waste in southern markets, while ensuring farmers benefit more from the livestock value chain. The governor further disclosed a $100 million offtake deal with the Saudi Export and Import Bank for livestock exports to the Middle East, noting that every part of the animal from meat to skin, hooves, and bl++d would be harnessed for value.
He added that the project will be supported by LNG-powered cold-chain trucks from Lagos, modernizing meat distribution and storage across the country. The policy is expected to enhance meat quality, create jobs in Niger’s processing sector, and contribute to Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy away from oil.
Bago also urged banks and investors to back such initiatives, warning that continued export of raw commodities would keep the country “perpetually broke.”
