LIFESTYLE Culture

Cameroon Border: Nigeria Opens Livestock Control Post

by admin on | 2026-08-06 14:16:23

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By Ahmad Sirajo Makama, Abuja

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maha, has commissioned the first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility in Mfum, a border community with the Republic of Cameroon in Cross River State.

Maha said the facility is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s border livestock management system, improve disease surveillance and facilitate safer regional livestock trade.

During a courtesy visit to the Cross River Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Odey, the minister described the facility as critical to the economy, noting it will ensure that only healthy livestock are allowed across Nigeria’s international borders.

He said, “This is the first of its kind that we are building in the country. We are proud that Cross River is the first state where this is being formally commissioned.”

According to him, the Mfum project is one of 12 livestock control posts planned across Nigeria’s international border corridors to strengthen animal health certification and curb the spread of transboundary animal diseases.

Maha said he would inspect livestock facilities at the Obudu Ranch Resort and other locations in the state to assess development efforts aimed at attracting private sector investment.

He explained that the Obudu livestock development plan includes facilities for cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and a dairy centre to be developed in partnership with a Nigerian university.

“All we need is the right incentives to get it started here in Cross River. Our farmers are ready and the state government is providing an environment that can make this a source of national pride,” he said.

The minister also unveiled plans for a 500-head-per-day modern abattoir ecosystem with the capacity to generate 10,000 jobs across the livestock value chain in the state, aimed at reducing dependence on cattle transported from northern Nigeria.

He said, “We believe Cross River is well positioned to dominate the red meat industry in the south-south. With Calabar’s access to the coast, we are just about five hours from Gulf markets. The value of Nigeria’s red meat export is estimated at 3.4 billion dollars.”

Maha further disclosed plans to import 60 million hatchable eggs in the short term to stabilise livestock supply nationwide and license more operators to reduce waiting time for farmers.

He noted that the Gulf of Guinea markets have strong demand for fodder production, providing investment opportunities across the livestock value chain, including feed, cold-chain storage, processing and transportation.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Odey, expressed readiness to partner with the ministry to position Cross River as a major livestock and export hub for Nigeria and West Africa.

Odey welcomed the inclusion of the state among the 12 selected for the Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility.

He commended the minister for supporting the upgrade of Obudu Ranch Resort into a five-star tourism and livestock investment destination capable of attracting global investors.

The deputy governor said the project aligns with the state’s broader trade corridor strategy and assured the ministry of full cooperation.