The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Livestock Trade Group has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the United States Government to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry through increased investment, technology transfer, trade promotion, and capacity building.
The commitment was made during a strategic engagement on “Opportunities for Livestock Development” with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), led by Agricultural Counselor, Mr. Christopher Bielecki, alongside key stakeholders across the livestock value chain. Participants agreed that stronger public-private collaboration is essential to advancing food security, economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.
Representing the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, Mr. Bielecki reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation with Nigeria. He said the USDA is focused on expanding bilateral agricultural trade, strengthening partnerships between American and Nigerian agribusinesses, providing technical support, and improving market access. He described Nigeria’s livestock industry as a high-potential sector with significant untapped opportunities despite the current annual bilateral agricultural trade valued at approximately US$764 million.
Bielecki further disclosed that the USDA has committed US$26.1 million to support Nigeria’s poultry and aquaculture sectors through technical assistance, capacity building, and improved access to finance. He also announced that the USDA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, would participate in the forthcoming All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and a Business-to-Business (B2B) Forum in Abuja. According to him, the events will connect American and Nigerian livestock businesses, strengthen trade partnerships, facilitate access to finance, and promote modern technologies across the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the NACCIMA Livestock Trade Group, the Director-General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Group’s Focal Person, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, welcomed the growing partnership with the United States and called for sustained collaboration to deliver measurable benefits to livestock producers nationwide. He urged the U.S. delegation to leverage NACCIMA’s nationwide chamber network to reach genuine livestock operators and to advocate for expanded training programmes, business matchmaking, curriculum development, improved data collection, and greater participation by Nigerian entrepreneurs in international agricultural exhibitions, including the World Dairy Expo.
The Deputy Chairman of the NACCIMA Livestock Trade Group and National Vice President of NACCIMA, Dr. Abdul Alimi Bello, advocated a long-term strategy for livestock development in Nigeria. He called for stronger Nigeria-U.S. trade partnerships while encouraging manufacturers to export quality livestock products and create platforms for businesses from both countries to exchange ideas, technology, and investments. Dr. Bello further emphasised the need for a national livestock disease database and improved livestock infrastructure, noting that both are essential to attracting investment, increasing meat exports, and creating jobs.
The Deputy President of the Borno Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), Alhaji Goni Dunoma, advocated improved infrastructure to strengthen livestock value chains and boost cattle, sheep, and goat production nationwide. According to him, enhanced disease surveillance, modern abattoirs, and stronger Nigeria-U.S. partnerships will improve livestock exports, attract investment, and unlock the sector’s enormous economic potential.
The Vice Chairman of the NACCIMA Livestock Trade Group and President of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria, Barr. Joe Onyiuke, highlighted the importance of aggregating smallholder oil palm growers to strengthen the livestock feed value chain. He urged the USDA and other development partners to create pathways that would enable Nigerian smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to benefit directly from bilateral trade and investment opportunities. Reflecting on past initiatives under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Onyiuke lamented that Nigerian producers derived minimal benefits while foreign companies leveraged Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones to access the U.S. market. He maintained that improving access to affordable finance, reducing the cost of doing business, strengthening partnerships with U.S. firms, and supporting farmer aggregation would empower smallholder producers to compete globally, expand exports, and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s livestock and agricultural value chains.
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Janet Olisa, OON, stressed the need to move beyond policy discussions to practical implementation of existing bilateral initiatives. She observed that many Nigerian businesses are unable to access available international funding opportunities due to inadequate information and weak institutional linkages. She therefore advocated stronger business-to-business collaboration between organised private sector institutions in Nigeria and the United States.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ABBIS Group and ACCI Vice President, Finance, Dr. Gashinbaki Illiyasu, showcased ongoing investments in world-class livestock processing facilities and invited American investors to explore opportunities in meat processing, cold-chain logistics, feed production, and digital livestock marketing.
The ACCI Vice President, Agriculture, Dr. Olasetemi Bode Thompson, commended the U.S. delegation for engaging directly with the organised private sector and called for the swift implementation of the identified areas of cooperation. He assured the delegation of ACCI’s commitment to mobilising credible businesses and promoting investment opportunities across the livestock value chain.
The representative of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr. Usman Nasiru, highlighted the need for affordable financing, investments in livestock infrastructure, veterinary services, export certification systems, disease surveillance, and continuous capacity building to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria’s livestock economy.
Also present at the meeting were the ACCI Deputy Director of the Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Mr. Mahmoud Murtala; the Livestock Development Team Lead, ACCI, Mr. Adetoye Kayode; and other distinguished ACCI, the secretary to NACCIMA, Livestock Trade Group, Abubakar Mayaki.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment by the USDA, NACCIMA, ACCI, and other stakeholders to translate the discussions into concrete partnerships that will strengthen Nigeria’s livestock value chain. Participants expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among government institutions, development partners, financial organisations, and the organised private sector will accelerate investment, improve productivity, expand export opportunities, and position Nigeria as a leading livestock production and processing hub in Africa.
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Abubakar Mayaki
NACCIMA Livestock Trade Group Secretary
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Olayemi John-Mensah
Media Strategy Officer Team Lead