Minister of Livestock and Development, Idi Maha, says the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility in Mfum, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State is critical to protecting Nigeria’s economy.
Key Highlights
- The Federal Government has commissioned Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility in Mfum, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
- Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maha said the facility will help protect Nigeria’s economy by ensuring only healthy livestock enter the country from neighbouring nations.
- The control post is the first of 12 planned facilities to be established along Nigeria’s international border corridors.
- The initiative aims to strengthen livestock inspection, disease control and border biosecurity.
- The minister said the project will help safeguard Nigeria’s livestock industry while improving cross-border animal trade.
The minister said the initiative is also aimed at ensuring only healthy livestock cross the borders from the Sahel and neighboring countries into Nigeria.
Speaking in Calabar during a meeting with the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu, the minister said the livestock control post is the first of its kind that the federal government is building in the country.
“We are proud that Cross River is the first state where this is being formally commissioned,” the minister said, adding that “it is one out of 12 spread across Nigeria’s international borders, from here up to other corridors.
“Each corridor will receive a large number of animals, and we are going to protect you.”
The minister said his visit would also include inspections of the Obudu Ranch and other livestock facilities in the state to assess progress and attract investors.
He outlined plans for a modern abattoir ecosystem in Cross River State to reduce dependence on cattle trucked in from northern states, stating that a 500-head-per-day abattoir could create up to 10,000 jobs across the value chain, including feed production, cold chain storage, and transportation.
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“We believe Cross River is well positioned to dominate the red meat industry in the South-South. With Calabar’s access to the coast, we are just about 5 hours from Gulf markets. The value of Nigeria’s red meat export is estimated at $3.4 billion,” Maha said.
To stabilize supply, the ministry announced plans to import about 60 million hatchable eggs as a short-term measure and to license operators to reduce waiting times for farmers.
The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey said that the state government is ready to partner with the Federal Ministry of Livestock and Development to turn the state into a livestock and export hub for Nigeria and West Africa.
Governor Otu, added that the state government is equally set for a major boost in agriculture and export trade and is also ready to make the Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort a five-star resort where visitors from all over the world will be happy to visit.
Governor Otu announced that the cargo airport close to the Obudu Ranch is 85 percent completed, with the first aircraft expected to land in December 2026.
He added that the state plans to commence regular flights in the first quarter of next year from Abuja to Bukalo Airport and from Lagos to the Obudu International Passengers and Cargo Airport.
“For farmers who want to invest in livestock, it will be easier to export our livestock from Obudu Ranch to anywhere in the world.,” the governor added.
