The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has warned that rising imports of beef and other meat products could weaken Nigeria’s livestock industry and push local producers out of business.
MACBAN President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, raised the concern in a statement on Monday in Abuja, saying the association was worried about reports of increased meat imports into the country.
He stressed that MACBAN was not opposed to international trade or legitimate competition, but warned against policies that could place Nigerian livestock producers at a disadvantage and undermine domestic production.
Othman-Ngelzarma cited the rice sector as a cautionary example, saying Nigeria had achieved nearly 98 per cent self-sufficiency in rice production, yet increased imports were still causing losses for farmers and investors.
He urged the government to avoid a similar situation in the livestock sector, where producers are already contending with rising feed and transportation costs, insecurity, shrinking grazing resources, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to affordable finance and climate change.
“Exposing local producers to direct competition from highly developed foreign livestock industries could push many Nigerian livestock producers out of business,” he said.
The MACBAN president noted that the livestock economy supports a broad network of pastoralists, farmers, feed producers, traders, transporters, butchers, processors and livestock and veterinary professionals.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently assess the impact of increased meat imports on domestic production, employment, investment and national food security.
“Before further liberalising the market, Nigeria should pursue strategic trade, not import dependency,” he said.
Othman-Ngelzarma said where imports were necessary to address genuine supply gaps, they should complement rather than replace domestic production.
He commended the Federal Government’s investments and reforms in the livestock sector, but stressed that MACBAN was seeking a level playing field rather than a closed market.
He urged the government to prioritise protecting domestic production alongside ensuring food availability and affordability.
