The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has flagged off the groundbreaking ceremony for a modern abattoir with a processing capacity of 500 bulls per day in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the project as a landmark investment aimed at modernising Nigeria’s red meat value chain, strengthening food safety standards, creating jobs, and positioning the country for regional and international meat markets.
He said the facility represents more than a slaughter facility, noting that it is designed to drive a new livestock economy that promotes public health, improves productivity, encourages value addition, and supports sustainable growth. The minister added that the Jos Modern Abattoir project is about building a safe, efficient, and globally competitive livestock system.
Plateau State was selected for the project due to its favourable climate, strong agricultural base, established livestock activities, the presence of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, and its transport connectivity across road, rail, and air.
According to the ministry, the facility will improve food safety through modern veterinary inspection systems, hygienic slaughter processes, quality assurance measures, and effective waste management, while also supporting disease surveillance and public health outcomes. It will operate as an integrated processing centre where by-products such as hides, skins, bones, blood, and fats will be converted into industrial inputs including leather products, fertilisers, animal feed, biogas, and pharmaceuticals.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of a transformative journey for Nigeria’s livestock industry. This facility will provide a modern, hygienic, and efficient meat processing environment that meets global standards while creating opportunities across the entire livestock value chain,” the minister stated.
The project is projected to generate between 7,000 and 10,000 direct and indirect jobs across livestock production, logistics, veterinary services, cold-chain systems, processing, leather production, and waste management.
The minister stressed that success of the project will depend on strong partnerships among government, investors, livestock producers, financial institutions, and host communities, while urging stakeholders to support structured livestock supply systems. He added that the initiative would also promote peace and security by encouraging more organised livestock systems and reducing pressure on land resources.
