By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced a landmark $100 million livestock offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank, signaling a major boost for Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
The deal, which begins with an initial $10 million tranche, will see Niger State supplying livestock to the Middle East, positioning the state as a key player in global protein supply chains.
Governor Bago disclosed the agreement on Tuesday, August 19, at the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025.
He explained that the Saudi government had approached the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), to facilitate the arrangement, describing it as a transformative opportunity for both Niger State and Nigeria.
The governor noted that the deal covers the entire livestock value chain, including meat and by-products such as tripe, blood, and skin.
He projected that the export potential for the region could reach as much as $2.5 billion annually.
The development comes amid rising geopolitical and environmental instability in the Sahel and Sudan, which has heightened the demand for livestock in the Middle East.
