Farmers and civil society organisations have raised serious concerns over the Federal Government’s $2.5 billion agricultural investment deal with Brazilian meat giant JBS, warning that the project could threaten local livelihoods and the environment.
Lens News reports that the partnership will see JBS establish six large-scale meat processing plants across Nigeria,three poultry, two beef, and one pork aimed at modernising the livestock sector and boosting food production.
However, farmers and advocacy groups fear that the deal could lead to land displacement, environmental pollution, and economic marginalisation of smallholder farmers. They also warned of potential public health risks from industrial farming practices and overuse of antibiotics.
Some organisations have called on the government to suspend the project pending independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and transparent community consultations.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has defended the partnership, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs, and reduce farmer-herder conflicts.
Agencies like NIRSAL have begun training local livestock actors to help them integrate into the new system and benefit from the investment opportunities
