Niger State Government has announced a $100 million livestock export deal with the Saudi Export and Import Bank, a move Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said will place Nigeria on the map of the international meat supply chain.
Speaking at the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025 in Lagos, Bago disclosed that the agreement will commence with a $10 million first tranche, facilitated through the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), describing the deal as a turning point for Nigeria’s non-oil export drive.
“The Saudi government has given us an offtake agreement for $100 million. They’ve asked NEXIM to come in, and we’re starting with the first $10 million,” the governor revealed.
The development comes amid growing geopolitical and environmental disruptions in the Sahel and Sudan, which have heightened demand for livestock across the Middle East. According to Bago, the deal opens the door to a $2.5 billion annual opportunity, as Saudi Arabia and its neighbours seek stable, high-volume supplies of meat and animal by-products.
“This is not just about meat. The tripe, blood, skin, hooves — every part of the animal has value. We’re building the entire ecosystem,” he explained.
The governor stressed that Niger State is ready to leverage its vast livestock resources to meet international demand, while also boosting domestic job creation and foreign exchange earnings.
