The Registrar and Chief Executive officer of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Prof. Eustace Iyayi has disclosed that since the border closure with the Nigeria Neighbouring countries, the poultry industry has saved about N50 billion from October to date. According to the NIAS boss, the multiplier effect of the border closure has reflected in the value chain of poultry production a surge, especially when supply of inputs, storage facilities, transportation and value addition in the industry is considered.
He revealed as at 2016 data, Nigeria requires about 5.3 million metric tonnes to feed which 80% of this total was tied to the poultry industry.
He explained that with an estimated population of 180 million poultry population, this he said would translate an annual output of 700,000 metric tonnes of eggs that is about 450 million crates of eggs and 300,000 metric tonnes of meat.
Iyayi said this is perhaps has created a million of both direct and indirect jobs considering the entire value chain in conjunction with other related ancillaries.
“It is indeed an almost endless web of commercial activities.
He said this ranges from hatcheries, day-old chicks distribution, broiler/layer farming, broiler processing, poultry meat and egg retail shops, crop processing, raw materials supply, feed mill operations, feed distribution, among others, ”
The NIAS boss predicted that with this huge impact, it is expected that it will grow exponentially and this will be more beneficial to grow the economic strength of the nation’s poultry industry.
According to him, the growth could go beyond the current estimated annual rate of 3.3 per cent, by taking total control of the local market.
He said with the net worth of N1.6 trillion in an Agricultural sub-sector, it will play a major role in the current government's effort towards creating millions of jobs as promised.
“Before the border closure, the poultry industry in the livestock sub-sector was badly hit.
He revealed Nigeria consumed an estimate of two million tonnes of poultry meat annually, out of which 70% were imported and smugglers through the land border have worked against the country by smuggling the meat thereby denying government it’s revenue.
He further explained, with the drastic reduction in smuggling of finished commodities into the country, it would enhance the increased production of primary products that are processed to obtain the final products.
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