The Minister, Live Stock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has assured all parties involved in setting up an Agro industrial business Hub in FCT, Abuja of the Ministry's commitment to the smooth operation and take off of the project coming up soon.
The Minister affirmed, the Ministry's commitments in working closely with ABIS group , LPRES and relevant Stakeholders to ensure cohesive, collaborative, and energetic approach towards the development and implementation of the ABIS Mega Livestock processing facility in Abuja.
This affirmation was made during a high level tripartite briefing and strategic engagement on the outcome of the training on pastoral market access and contracting models between ABIS group , LPRES and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development on Monday in Abuja, the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations Department, Henrietta Okokon, said.
According to the Minister, the meeting was convened as an effective follow up on the Ministry's inclusion of the ABIS Group as part of Nigeria delegation to the training programme on Pastoral Market Access, through Quality Assurance and Inclusive Contracting Models held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the auspices of the African African Union Inter African, Bereau for Animal Resourced(AU IBAR, and African Pastoral Market Development (APMD) platform.
To this end, The ABIS team Leader Ambassador Emmanuel Usman, expressed appreciation to the Hon Minister for the opportunity to participate in the international training programme, which brought together representatives from Somalia, Botswana, Ethiopia and Kenya.
The National Coordinator LPRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar appreciated the Honorable Minister and his entire team for his magnanimity in inclusiveness and passage given to the ABIS group to attend the meeting.
The General Manager ABIS group , Mr Kujo Reigans a representative of younger generation of the Group, highlighted his team's comprehensive feedback on lessons learnt and the insights gained from the training, particularly in relation to improving pastoral market system, quality assurance frameworks, and inclusive contracting mechanisms within Nigeria Livestock value chain.
He also mentioned some of the key issues deliberated on, which included, a unified quality assurance system, structured Outgrower Scheme, Development Bank of Nigerian Funding opportunities, Visa Challenges for expatriates among others.
He employs on the Unified Quality Assurance system, with discussions held on the need for a unified and standardized quality assurance system, to enhance efficiency, traceability, and competitiveness within the livestock sector.
He further said that Development bank of Nigerian funding opportunities abound as deliberation were also held regarding possible funding support from the Bank to strengthen operations and scale up livestock processing activities in Nigeria.
The ABIS team highlighted some of the difficulties and bottle necks encountered in securing visa for expatriates engaged on the ABIS Mega Livestock processing facility project and the need to streamline processses to facilitate project implementation of the project in Fct.