"While Hunger Exists Today, Hope is On the Horizon -Tinubu Assures Nigerians of End to Hunger in the Land
By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde, Olufemi Orunsola
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration remains commited to attracting both local and international investments into the country with a view to ending the problem of hunger in the country.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Nigerian President gave this assurance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the signing of a Letter of Intent with JBS S.A, one of the world’s top three meat processing companies.
Tinubu revealed that Nigeria's livestock sector offers investment opportunities worth over $2.5 billion, adding that his administration intends to deploy
Nigeria's livestock sector as a strategy to address farmer-herder conflicts and drive economic growth in the country.
Tinubu, while acknowledging that there is indeed a nagging issue of hunger in the country, the President assured Nigerians that solutions are underway through the development of the agricultural value chain.
The President described the agreement as a step toward resolving long-standing clashes between farmers and herders, which have caused loss of lives, while transforming the situation into an avenue for economic progress.
“We are addressing tragedy and hopelessness by creating economic opportunities,” Tinubu said.
“Food security is critical. While hunger exists today, hope is on the horizon.”
The President assured JBS executives of Nigeria's readiness to partner with them, promising them a conducive environment and strong returns on investment.
In addition, the President and Founder of JBS, Wesley Batista, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting Nigeria's potential to become a protein supply hub for Africa.
"We see Nigeria as a central point for the development of the livestock industry in Africa and look forward to working together. JBS, with a 2024 revenue exceeding $79 billion, is Brazil's largest private employer," Batista stated.
Before visiting Brazil, Tinubu had tasked a delegation of Nigerian officials and private sector leaders with exploring livestock and agricultural opportunities in Sao Paulo during the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
OTN News further reports that the team, led by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muhktar Mahia, conducted a study of JBS's advanced operations, including their zero-waste processing of 33,000 cattle and over eight million birds daily.
However, JBS was ultimately chosen for its scale, efficiency, and global presence across over 50 countries, including the U.S, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.
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