Gombe State Launches ₦60 Billion Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone

In a bold step towards revitalizing Nigeria’s livestock economy, Gombe State has received ₦60 billion from the Federal Government to commence development on a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone. The initiative is part of a ₦120 billion commitment by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen livestock infrastructure and value chain transformation across the country.

The announcement was made by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya during the groundbreaking ceremony held in Gombe over the weekend. He described the project as a cornerstone of Gombe’s agricultural modernization efforts, with wide-ranging benefits for employment, productivity, and international trade.

What the Project Entails

According to the governor, the Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone will feature:

A fully automated, ultramodern abattoir
An international livestock market
Cattle and small ruminant fattening hubs
A tannery and leather processing facility
A premium grains and livestock feed trading center
A strategically located dry inland port

These facilities are designed to meet global standards for hygiene, food safety, and export compliance, positioning Gombe as a regional leader in meat processing and animal product commercialization.

Shifting from Live Transport to Value Addition

Governor Yahaya emphasized that this industrial zone will drastically reduce the need to transport live animals across long distances — a practice fraught with welfare, economic, and public health concerns. Instead, animals will be processed closer to source, ensuring better logistics, sanitary control, and greater returns for farmers and processors.

He added:

“This facility is designed to revolutionize meat processing not just in Gombe, but across the Northern region. It will serve both domestic and global markets through hygienic, efficient, and standardized systems.”

National Livestock Development Alignment

Speaking at the event, Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, affirmed that the Gombe project fits into the Federal Government’s broader livestock revitalization strategy. Under this framework, the government aims to scale up local animal processing, reduce dependency on meat imports, and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s animal agriculture sector.

The Minister further revealed that the facility, once fully operational, will have the capacity to handle:

500 cattle per day
1,000 small ruminants per day
3,000 poultry birds per day

These capacities will significantly improve processing throughput, stimulate ancillary industries, and attract agribusiness investors into the region.