President Bola Tinubu on Friday said his administration’s renewed focus in driving international and local investments into the livestock sector of the agricultural value-chain will end the crisis of farmer-herder clashes in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President spoke in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the signing of the Letter of Intent between the Nigerian Government and JBS S.A, one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally.
Tinubu told the JBS executives that Nigeria is ready to do business, assuring them of good returns on their investment.
“What we are doing right now is that we are solving a problem that afflicts humanity in that part of Africa, clashes between farmers and migrating cows that have caused some life and bloodshed when there is a modern, civilized way to solve those problems and even bring a successful economy out of it,” Tinubu said.
“We are trying to turn a situation of tragedy, hopelessness into economic opportunity, see through problems and see the opportunity that is involved in it.”
The Nigerian leader called on the company to see the considerable potential in what he called the $2.5billion livestock investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially with its huge population and tap into it, given JBS S.A’s globally recognized expertise in the area of guaranteeing food security.
“We’ve heard so much about you in terms of the reputation, and we believe in the partnership we are forging today.
“Food security is extremely important. As we talk right now, there is hunger. However, there is huge hope. And you are one of those hopes that we are looking at.”
Prior to his visit to Brazil, Tinubu had commissioned a team of Nigerian officials and private sector players to take the advantage of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio to conduct a study tour of Sao Paulo, Brazil and explore the opportunities in livestock development, meat processing, seed development and multiplication for key grains.
Livestock investment will end farmers, herders conflict in Nigeria – Tinubu