From PETER TITLE, Heipang
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a 500-cattle-per-day ultra-modern abattoir and laid the foundation for a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pomwol-Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, in a move aimed at strengthening the state’s livestock value chain and accelerating its agro-industrial development agenda.
The projects, supported by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Programme, are designed to improve food safety standards, create employment opportunities, attract private investment, enhance meat processing capacity and position Plateau State as a leading livestock and agribusiness hub in Nigeria and West Africa.
Speaking during the ceremony Monday, Governor Mutfwang described the livestock processing facility as more than an abattoir, saying it is a strategic agro-industrial platform designed to transform livestock production from a largely informal activity into a structured, bankable and investment-grade economic asset.
According to him, the projects form a critical component of the Heipang Special Agro-Processing Zone, an initiative established to reduce poverty and drive large-scale agricultural and industrial development across the state.
“Today marks the groundbreaking of a new economic future for Plateau State. We have gathered here at the Heipang Special Agro-Processing Zone to lay the foundation for an investment that will transform livestock from a traditional activity into a modern engine of wealth creation, industrial growth and shared prosperity,” the governor stated.
He said the project aligns strongly with national objectives on food security, import substitution, job creation, industrialisation and sustainable economic development.
“It also positions Plateau State as a leading destination for livestock processing and agribusiness in West Africa,” he added.
Governor Mutfwang disclosed that upon completion, the facility will process 500 cattle and 1,000 small ruminants, including sheep and goats, daily.
He said it would also feature a 200-ton cold storage facility for poultry and various fish species, creating a modern and traceable processing ecosystem capable of enhancing consumer confidence and supporting livestock producers.
“Mutfwang flags off ultra-modern abattoir, veterinary teaching hospital to drive Plateau’s livestock economy with a world-class, automated abattoir capable of processing 500 cattle daily—the largest facility of its kind in this region,” he said.
The governor noted that many African economies remain trapped in poverty not because of a lack of resources but because they export raw products and import finished goods.
“The difference between poverty and prosperity is often the differen6ce between producing and processing. That is why agro-processing and value addition remain central pillars of our economic development strategy,” he said.
According to him, the vision of his administration is to ensure that every segment of the value chain within the Special Agro-Processing Zone creates income and opportunities for Plateau citizens.
“Farmers who grow maize and soybeans for animal feed must benefit. Youths involved in livestock transportation must benefit. Entrepreneurs operating cold rooms must benefit. Processors packaging meat products must also benefit.
“The Heipang Special Agro-Processing Zone is a strategic platform that will attract private investment, improve food safety standards, expand market access, stimulate industrial development, create jobs and, most importantly, generate wealth for our people,” he said.
Mutfwang stated that Plateau occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s livestock economy, with an estimated two million cattle, four million sheep and goats, and over 535,000 pigs.
He added that the state’s central location makes it a major transit point for livestock movement across the country.
The governor thanked the host community for donating land for the project and commended residents for their support.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and voiced confidence that the project would be completed within one year.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described Plateau State as uniquely positioned to lead Nigeria’s livestock transformation.
According to the minister, the state possesses a hospitable climate, resilient farming communities, strategic road, rail and airport connections, as well as a long-standing tradition of excellence in animal health services.
Maiha said the project symbolises Nigeria’s transition from informal slaughter systems to modern meat production, from waste to value creation and from the trade in live animals to an integrated livestock and meat industry.
He stressed that modern livestock infrastructure is essential for improving public health, increasing productivity and unlocking export opportunities.
The minister added that Plateau is leading the way in harnessing Nigeria’s livestock economy through the construction of the abattoir, noting that the facility would unlock investment opportunities, create jobs and boost meat exports.
He said modern livestock markets require hygienic networks that meet export standards and projected that the facility could provide up to 10,000 direct jobs daily.
Commissioner for Livestock Development, Veterinary Services and Fisheries, Dr Sunday Akpa, described the initiative as a historic milestone capable of boosting foreign exchange earnings and transforming Plateau into a major livestock investment destination.
He said the project reflects Governor Mutfwang’s commitment to moving Plateau State beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities towards agro-industrial excellence and livestock-driven economic prosperity.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Samson Bugama, described the groundbreaking as a defining moment in Plateau State’s economic transformation.
“Today, we move from speech to soil. We are not merely building an abattoir; we are laying the foundation for the future of our economy,” he said.
Bugama explained that the facility would serve as the anchor project for the state’s 500-hectare Special Agro-Processing Zone and would stimulate feedlot development, promote value addition, attract cold-chain investors, leather processors and feed mill operators, while creating opportunities for farmers, herders, transporters, butchers and other stakeholders within the livestock ecosystem.
He added that the facility has the capacity to process products from 500 cattle daily and handle up to 200 tons of products.
In separate goodwill messages, Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Stephen Pwajok; the Gbong Gwom Jos, represented by Ngolong Ngas, Nde Jika Golit; National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, Dr Sanusi Abubakar; and other community leaders commended Governor Mutfwang for his visionary leadership and for siting the project in Heipang.
They expressed confidence that the projects would reposition Plateau State as a leading destination for livestock investment, agro-industrial development and sustainable job creation, while providing employment opportunities for young people.
The stakeholders also pledged to protect the project and prayed for continued wisdom for the governor in delivering democratic dividends to the people of Plateau State.
Earlier, the Minister of Livestock Development paid a courtesy visit to Governor Mutfwang at the Old Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
