Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | by DAILY MENTOR NEWS
Niger State Governor Umar Bago has announced plans to stop the direct supply of live cattle to Lagos and other South West states. Instead, his administration intends to process meat locally within Niger State and send only frozen meat products to the South West region.
Speaking at the First Bank 2025 Agric and Export Expo in Lagos on Tuesday, Governor Bago explained that the move aims at ensuring northern farmers reap maximum benefits from their labor by strengthening local value addition and controlling pricing.
“We will process our meat in Niger so that our farmers reap the full benefits of their labor. This way, the value and pricing will be in our hands,” Bago stated.
Governor Bago also pledged to expand agricultural collaboration with Lagos State by increasing land allocation from 20,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares, a move expected to enhance food production and interstate cooperation.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu voiced concerns over Nigeria’s export of raw agricultural products instead of processed goods, lamenting the loss of jobs and wealth, which undermines competitiveness in global markets.
“The global marketplace is not waiting for Nigeria. Other African countries are aggressively positioning their agricultural products, securing market share, and attracting investments into agribusiness,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“If Nigeria must take its rightful place, we must be strategic and relentless in driving non-oil exports.”
Sanwo-Olu further emphasized the need for accessible financing to boost export competitiveness despite the state’s investments in infrastructure, port modernization, and digital trade platforms.
The First Bank Agric and Export Expo, themed “The Fundamentals of Building an Export-Driven Economy,” convened policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to explore strategies for economic diversification away from oil dependence.