The Federal Government of Nigeria has disbursed N60 billion to Gombe State as the first tranche of a N120 billion support package to establish a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone. Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced this during the groundbreaking ceremony held recently in Gombe, describing the project as a flagship initiative aimed at building a modern, efficient, and sustainable livestock economy in the state.
The industrial zone will feature state-of-the-art facilities including an ultramodern abattoir, an international livestock market, fattening centers, a tannery and leather factory, a world-class grains and livestock feeds market, and an inland dry port. These facilities are designed with cutting-edge infrastructure to enable safe, efficient, and large-scale processing and commerce.
The ultramodern abattoir is expected to transform meat processing in Gombe and Northern Nigeria by enabling hygienic, efficient, and globally compliant processing, packaging, and distribution of meat products for both domestic and international markets.
This will eliminate the outdated and unsafe practice of transporting live animals, thus fostering a smarter and safer livestock economy.
The project is anticipated to create thousands of jobs, boost productivity, promote import substitution, and increase foreign exchange earnings across the entire livestock value chain. It aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes livestock development to enhance animal processing capacity for local and international consumption.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the livestock sector, noting that upon completion, the facility will have the capacity to process 500 bulls, 1,000 small ruminants, and 3,000 poultry birds daily.
This initiative is part of broader efforts by the Gombe State Government to industrialize the state sustainably, leveraging agriculture as the bedrock of the economy to create economic opportunities, improve food security, and foster sustainable growth in the North-East region of Nigeria.
