As part of the drive towards the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha and the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has laid the foundation for the construction of the Gombe Ultra-Modern Abattoir.
This was made known in a statement by Ben Bem Goong, the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations and made available to AgroNigeria on Sunday, in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the abattoir is part of the Gombe Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone established by the Gombe State Government for the development of agricultural and livestock value chains to provide jobs, drive economic prosperity and attain food security.
Describing the abattoir as “a game changer for livestock development in the Northeast zone of Nigeria”, the Minister explained that the abattoir will have a daily capacity for slaughter and processing of meat for 500cows, 1,000 sheep and goats and 3,000 poultry.
He further explained that in order to ensure steady supply of prime animals to the abattoir, the Ministry will work with the Gombe State Government to establish “Jewel Feedlot Estates” for bull fattening, which is in tandem with the youths and women empowerment scheme of the Ministry.
Maiha observed that Nigeria is sub-optimally consuming around 360,000 tons of beef annually, and this needs to be significantly increased.
As part of the efforts, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will vigorously pursue the implementation of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).
The Minister also explained that the goal of the strategy is to make the livestock sector modern, resilient and globally competitive. In the red meat industry, modern abattoirs will be promoted while ensuring improvement of indigenous breeds, effective delivery of animal health services and control of zoonoses diseases.
He urged relevant departments and agencies to ensure that mandatory certifications for the feedlots and ranches be ensured, adding that the abattoirs should also be provided with state-of-the-art facilities and manned by professional personnel to ensure that its products meet international standards for local consumption and global export.
“Additionally, steady supply of feed-stock (animals) to the abattoirs will be ensured through the establishment of commercial ranches, out-grower schemes for bull fattening, pasture production for improved feeding and development of grazing reserves.”
The Minister who commended the Gombe State Government for the giant efforts in promoting social and economic development throughout the State, applauded the laudable initiatives in the livestock sector, assured the Executive Governor of the Ministry’s full support and cooperation towards transforming the sector.
In his address, the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya expressed the determination of his administration to transforming the agricultural and livestock sectors through focused policies, strategic investments and inclusive programmes so as to boost productivity, strengthen resilience and drive commercialisation across the entire value chains.
Yahaha said: “Over the years, millions of animals were vaccinated to reduce mortality and safeguarded public health”. “Proactive measures have been adopted in building trust and consensus for peaceful and harmonious intercommunity relations among farming and pastoralists communities”.
The Governor highlighted that the State Government have worked with the World Bank supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES) to invest in the development of the livestock sector, including the redemarcation of grazing reserves and stock routes and conduct of feasibility study for solving the problem of water supply within the 144,000 hectares land area of the Wawa Zange grazing reserve.
He appreciated the support of the Federal Government, and especially, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the government’s development efforts.
His Excellency urged the citizens of the state to support the ongoing interventions by the Federal and State Governments throughout the State and pledged to work with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in the construction and operationalisation of the Gombe Ultra-Modern Abattoir as a hub for agricultural and livestock production.
He added that the State Government will continue to invest in the development of grazing reserves, promotion of peace and security and improvement of the quality of life of the people of the State.
Yahaya appealed for continuous partnership and cooperation between the Federal and State Government while opening up doors for private sector investments.
In his goodwill message, Chairman/Founder of ABIS Group, Ambassador Emmanuel Nelson Usman, encouraged butchers to key into the use of modern abattoirs in the processing, handling and packaging of meat in the country.
As part of the 2-day visit to Gombe state, the Minister paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, where he inspected an Equestrian centre hosting different species of horses that are valuable in upholding the culture and heritage of people. There is also a feedlot for sheep and bull fattening within the Palace.
Expressing his joy over the initiative of the Emir, the Minister urged the Gombe State Ministry of Agriculture to support the efforts of the Emirate in the production of livestock.
The Emir in his response, assured the Minister of the commitment of the traditional institutions in mobilising citizens to key into the development initiatives in the sector.
According to the statement, the Minister accompanied by the Gombe State Commissioner of Agriculture also visited the Greenspa Multy Services Limited Farm located in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of the State.
“The egg production farm holds some 25,000 layers producing an average of 135,000 eggs daily and providing direct employment to about 50 youths. Plans to scale up to broiler production in the 15ha land area to exploit opportunities opened by the construction of the modern Abattoir in Gombe city. The farm also plans to expand cattle production through artificial insemination and feedlot.” The statement added
