Nigeria-China partnership targets feed production, agro-Industrial growth
The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership and the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority have commenced discussions on large-scale agricultural collaboration aimed at improving food security and sustainable livestock feed production in Nigeria.
The NCAA said the two agencies would explore partnerships aligned with bilateral agreements under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and Nigeria’s economic development plans.
A statement from the NCSP on Thursday said this was disclosed during a meeting held at the NCSP office in Abuja by senior officials from both organisations.
Speaking the Director General of NCSP, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, said the agency is responsible for coordinating and monitoring more than 55 bilateral agreements between Nigeria and China across sectors such as agriculture, mining, education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
He noted that NCSP is shifting from short-term transactions to development-focused partnerships to derive long-term value.
“The engagement aimed to explore mutually beneficial partnerships aligned with key bilateral agreements under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as well as Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.
“Welcoming the BORBDA delegation, the Director General of NCSP, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, outlined the agency’s strategic role in coordinating and monitoring over 55 China-Nigeria bilateral agreements across priority sectors, including agriculture, mining, education, infrastructure, and healthcare. He highlighted NCSP’s deliberate shift from transactional engagements to integrated, development-driven partnerships with China, positioning Nigeria to unlock long-term value from the cooperation, ” the statement partly read.
Tegbe pledged that NCSP would facilitate the required investment and engage relevant Chinese agencies and private sector stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of BORBDA, the Managing Director, Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, commended NCSP’s strategic alignment with national priorities.
He spotlighted the persistent challenge of livestock feed shortages in Nigeria and presented BORBDA’s flagship proposal, the National Feed Development Initiative.
“This initiative proposes the establishment of feed production centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, utilising an innovative combination of Juncao grass, soybean meal, and black soldier fly larvae, ” he added.
Adekanmbi explained that the project is designed to enhance food security, promote nutritional improvement, create jobs, especially for youth through collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment, and mitigate herder-farmer conflicts.
He noted that BORBDA already possesses land and irrigation assets needed to commence implementation and called for NCSP’s coordination in mobilising Chinese technical expertise and investment.
