Farmers, civil society organisations, and community leaders have called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of its $2.5 billion livestock investment agreement with Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS S.A., citing the absence of adequate environmental, social, and community impact assessments.
The demand was made on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the South West Regional Workshop on the Implications of Industrial Animal Farming in Nigeria, where participants insisted that the deal must not proceed without independent assessments, public transparency, and community consultations — particularly with traditional leaders in affected areas.
Background to the Controversial Deal
The livestock investment plan stems from a letter of intent signed in November 2024 between the Nigerian government and JBS, one of the world’s largest meat processing corporations, during a ceremony witnessed by President Bola Tinubu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to the Federal Government, the partnership — valued at $2.5 billion — would involve the construction of six new meat factories across Nigeria, with the goal of modernising the meat industry, enhancing food security, and stimulating job creation.
JBS Global Chief Executive Officer Gilberto Tomazoni stated at the signing that the company aimed not only to expand processing capacity but also to “contribute to solving critical challenges such as food insecurity and fostering socioeconomic progress.”
However, participants at the Abeokuta workshop described the deal as undemocratic and lacking transparency, warning that its execution could trigger social and environmental disruptions if not properly reviewed.
Stakeholders Raise Red Flags
Representatives from various organisations accused the government of fast-tracking the agreement without due diligence. They said the deal, as it stands, lacks Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), and clear community consultation frameworks, despite its potential to affect rural livelihoods and local ecosystems.
“Our biggest issue with the MoU at this stage is that it’s not democratic,” said Sulaimon Arigbabu of the HEDA Resource Centre. “It’s not available in the public space. They need to make it public and make their process more consultative.”
Arigbabu warned that failure to address these concerns could lead to future conflicts between investors and host communities.
Similarly, Sejiro Oke-Tojinu, former President of the Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria, lamented that relevant stakeholders were not carried along in the signing process.
Civil Society Push for Transparency
The workshop — jointly organised by the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, HEDA Resource Centre, and World Animal Protection — brought together farmers, traditional leaders, activists, government officials, and other concerned citizens.
In a communique issued at the end of the event, participants urged the Federal Government to publish the full Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with JBS and make it publicly accessible for scrutiny.
“The MoU must be made available to citizens, civil society, and stakeholders,” the communique stated. “It is a public document that belongs in the public domain.”
Call for Inclusive and Sustainable Development
The stakeholders emphasised that while attracting foreign investment in livestock production is desirable, it must be done in a transparent, inclusive, and environmentally responsible manner. They warned that the absence of oversight mechanisms could result in community displacement, loss of livelihoods, and environmental degradation.
Their position reflects a growing call for Nigeria to balance its push for industrial agricultural investment with the need to protect rural communities, local ecosystems, and smallholder farmers — ensuring that development does not come at the expense of social and ecological justice.