The Chairman of PAN, Southwest Zone, Rev. Oluleye Olugbeja, made the call at the 3-day Nigeria Poultry Show 2026 held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking at the event, which attracted over 100 vendors and exhibitors from Nigeria, China, India, Belgium and Germany, Olugbeja said some farmers had abandoned their farms due to kidnapping, warning that insecurity was discouraging people from farming at a time Nigeria needs to increase food production.
“Food security doesn’t just come by mouth. Just as you are pumping money into external security and securing our borders, that is the way we should also pump money into securing food within our entire country,” he said.
Representing the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Mr Richard Umbara said the Federal Government recognised the importance of the poultry industry to Nigeria’s economy and was committed to partnering with stakeholders to move the sector forward.
Umbara said the government was particularly concerned about the prolonged waiting period faced by farmers trying to obtain day-old chicks, noting that some producers currently wait for several months after making payments before receiving chicks.
He assured poultry farmers that the government was taking steps to address avian influenza and other diseases affecting the sector, stressing that the ministry was engaging relevant stakeholders to strengthen disease surveillance and response.
Also, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Ayo Sotinrin, represented by Mr Durojaye David, said the poultry industry, valued at about ₦1.9 trillion, remained a major contributor to Nigeria’s agricultural economy, with a significant proportion of its activities concentrated in the Southwest.
He noted that the industry’s growth was closely connected to the performance of Nigeria’s crop production, particularly maize, soybean and sorghum, which constitute critical ingredients for poultry feed.
Sotinrin said fluctuations in the supply and prices of these commodities directly affected the cost of producing eggs and poultry meat and ultimately influenced food prices.
He assured stakeholders that the bank was prepared to structure financing to support various stages of the agricultural value chain once the funds became available.
Meanwhile, Country Market Lead of the United States Soybean Export Council, USSEC, in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Foluso Alabi, said challenges facing poultry producers, including high feed costs, currency volatility, climate disruptions, disease risks and supply-chain bottlenecks, were not peculiar to Nigeria but were affecting livestock producers across Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world.
Earlier in his address, Chairman, Planning Committee, Dr Olalekan Odunsi, said the theme of the show, “Building a Sustainable and Resilient Poultry Industry in Challenging Times”, reflected the realities confronting the sector and encouraged stakeholders to focus on practical solutions, investment and development.
He also urged Nigerian stakeholders to take advantage of modern technologies, investment opportunities, collaboration and knowledge exchange available through the exhibition.
