The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has urged Ecogold Company, producers of animal fattening products, to urgently establish a factory in Nigeria to strengthen local animal feed production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Maiha made this call on Thursday during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Ecogold Company, Mr. Martins Nwaege, and his team at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He emphasized that the proposed factory would play a critical role in transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector and saving the country millions of dollars currently spent on importing animal feeds.
According to the Minister, the Ministry is implementing comprehensive plans to modernize the livestock industry, including the construction of modern abattoirs, large-scale pasture cultivation, establishment of feedlots for animal fattening, development of ranches, and expansion of animal health services nationwide.
Maiha assured Ecogold Company of the Ministry’s support and partnership, encouraging the company to organize stakeholder engagements to effectively promote its products across the country.
“Let us leverage on this opportunity and see what we can come up with. We want to partner with you and ensure the product reaches every part of Nigeria,” he stated.
In his remarks, Ecogold’s CEO, Mr. Martins Nwaege, assured the Minister that the planned animal feed factory would become operational in Nigeria within two years.
He disclosed that Nigeria would serve as the pilot country before expanding operations to other African nations, adding that the initiative would create significant employment opportunities for women and youths.
Furthermore, Nwaege noted that the company’s product has been certified by the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI).
