By Adelola Amihere and Ralph Chris-Izokpu
As the debate for and agianst the directive by the federal government to shut Nigeria’s border continues , the Nigerian poultry industry is recording its gains as the closure has saved the industry about N50 billion since its commencement in October 2019.
This was reveled by the Registrar and CEO, National Institute of Animal Science, Prof Eustace Iyayi to newsmen at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
Prof. Iyayi said, “before the border closure the poultry industry in the livestock sub-sector had been badly hit. Nigeria consumes about 2 million tons of poultry meat annually, 70% of which is imported.
Before the border closure poultry meat was heavily smuggled into the country through our land borders. The imported products often of lower quality attracted lower prices. This led to closure or down sizing of several poultry farms with consequential business and job losses along the poultry value chain.
“The border closure has reportedly saved the local poultry industry about N50 billion since its commencement.
He continued further, “The closure of the borders has not only created market for locallyproduced poultry, but has also created jobs. If the 1 million tons of chicken prevented from being smuggled into the country is produced in the country, an equivalent of about 100,000 jobs will be created along the broiler and turkey value chains, he said.
He added that the Institute supports the closure of the borders as directed by the President because it has imparted positively on the local poultry industry pointing out that the multiplier effect is seen in the upsurge in the operations along the value chain like supply of inputs, storage facilities, transportation/logistics and value addition.
