Investors swoop on Nigeria’s poultry

By abdulmumini Adeku  ,Gboyega Akinsanmi

Foreign investors from Europe, Asia and America are to storm Nigeria to take part in the maiden edition of the Nigeria Poultry show and exhibition scheduled to hold in Abeokuta, Ogun State next month.

This was contained in a statement by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Chairman, Ayoola Oduntan, stating that the exhibition South West Zone of PAN put the exhibition together.

The statement said the exhibition titled Value Chain-Opportunities for Investment in the Nigerian Poultry Industry “is aimed at establishing close links between poultry farmers, input suppliers and all stakeholders. This is in line with the government the government’s commitment to transform Nigerian agriculture”.

It added that the show “is committed to improving the value for poultry business in Nigeria by bringing together from Europe, Asia, United State and Africa various players in the value chain”.

The statement said: “These includes crop farmers, manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials, poultry producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, feed millers and other companies providing a variety of services such as financing, transporting, warehousing, research and development.
“With a population of about 152 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Almost one of every five sub-Saharan Africans lives within its borders.

“Apart from the need to feed it rapidly growing population, Nigeria also plays a significant role in the food security of the region making her a key player in the entire West African region.

“Agriculture is ranked the largest employer of labour in the Nigeria economy, estimated at about 70 per cent. The poultry sector is easily the most organised of this agricultural economy with the highest rate of returns.
“Nigeria’s poultry production is estimated at 60 million broilers annually and 53 million layers with per capita egg consumption of 61,” the statement said.