Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has secured a $100 million offtake agreement with the Saudi Export and Import Bank to supply livestock to the Middle East, marking a significant boost for Nigeria’s non-oil export sector. Announced on August 19, 2025, at the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo 2025 in Lagos, the deal begins with a $10 million initial tranche, as confirmed by Nairametrics. Bago highlighted the agreement’s potential to position Niger State as a key player in global protein supply chains, capitalizing on the Middle East’s demand for meat and animal by-products amid disruptions in the Sahel and Sudan. “This is incredible. The Saudi government has given us an offtake agreement for $100 million,” Bago stated, noting collaboration with the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM) to facilitate the deal.
The agreement aligns with Bago’s ambitious agricultural reforms, including allocating 100,000 hectares to Lagos State for food production and establishing Africa’s largest greenhouse estate. He emphasized value addition, stating, “This is not just about meat. The tripe, blood, skin, hooves, every part of the animal has value.” The deal, part of a $2.5 billion annual market opportunity, supports Niger’s role as a production hub, with Lagos as a consumer and logistics partner. Bago also called for affordable financing to scale farming, criticizing high interest rates that burden farmers.
This partnership underscores Niger State’s strategic push to leverage its vast arable land and livestock resources, with Bago’s administration already implementing initiatives like the Fasola Livestock Transformation Centre and partnerships with firms like Bayer AG. The deal is expected to create jobs and enhance food security, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed agricultural agenda. However, Bago’s recent comments on cattle rustling, attributed to peace deals with bandits in neighboring states, highlight ongoing security hurdles that could impact the agreement’s success.
