President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, Dr. Moses Arokoyo has commended President Bola Tinubu in forging a partnership between the federal government and the JBS Group, the second largest meat processing operator globally over investment of $2.5 billion in livestock development.
Speaking on the laudable investment, Arokoyo also hailed the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muhktar Mahia, and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi for the choice of JBS Group based on a proven track record of being the second largest meat processing company in the world with the capacity to process 33,000 cattle and over eight million birds daily using advanced zero-waste practices.
“It is heart warming that the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development is already taking giant steps to ensure that the much needed protein is made available to Nigerians,” he said.
He informed that the Veterinary services of the country contributed significantly to this achievement as the eradication of Rinderpest and control of FMD as well as other emerging and re-emerging trans boundary animal diseases creates an enabling environment for commodity-based trade and export, which bolsters confidence of foreign investors.
According to him, JBS Group is the largest employer of labour in Brazil with presence in about 50 countries and over $79 billion revenue already in year 2024.
Arokoyo said this focused investments in the livestock sector of the agricultural value-chain will indeed bring to reality solutions around food security, employment creation for the teeming youth population and make for agricultural technology transfer even down to the 774 local government areas of the nation.
He pledged the continued commitment and willingness of the Veterinary professionals in the nation across all cadres and specialization to support and participate actively in the actualization of this laudable project.
“We are very much aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President,” he said, adding “we are responding at all levels to the clarion call to ensure food security.”