Niger secures $100m livestock export deal with Saudi Arabia
Niger State has struck a $100 million livestock offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank, in a move Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago says will increase non-oil exports and strengthen food trade with the Middle East.
The deal, announced at the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025, begins with an initial $10 million tranche and positions Niger as a key supplier in the global protein market. Bago described it as part of a broader $2.5 billion annual opportunity created by rising demand for livestock across Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
“This is not just about meat. Every part of the animal—tripe, skin, hooves—has value. We are building the entire ecosystem,” the governor said.
He highlighted Niger’s partnership with Lagos State to expand agricultural exports, pledging 100,000 hectares of farmland to support Lagos’ food needs. Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in turn, reaffirmed the state’s role as the logistics hub for Nigeria’s agricultural economy, citing investments in ports, cold-chain trucks, and trade corridors.
Under the partnership, livestock will be processed in Niger before being transported as packaged frozen meat, eliminating the need for live animal haulage to Lagos. “Just walk into Shoprite and pick the meat—branded and properly packaged,” Bago explained.
Both governors emphasized the importance of value addition, arguing that exporting raw commodities keeps Nigeria vulnerable to volatile global prices. They called for stronger private-sector involvement and more affordable financing for farmers.
FirstBank CEO Olusegun Alebiosu said agriculture must remain central to Nigeria’s diversification strategy, describing non-oil exports as “a transformative force in the economy.”
The agreement is seen as a milestone in Nigeria’s drive to reduce reliance on oil revenues, improve food processing, and position the country as a reliable supplier in global agricultural markets.
