Nigeria is planning a US$900 million integrated poultry project in partnership with Chinese investors as part of efforts to boost local food production and reduce reliance on imports.
According to BusinessDay, the initiative will involve the development of six large-scale poultry farms, one in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Together, the farms are expected to produce up to 6 million eggs daily, with each site targeting 1 million eggs per day.
The official overseeing international relations for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, said each farm will be designed as a fully integrated production hub. That means every site will include its own power plant, hatchery, abattoir, and feed production system.
NEach farm is also expected to house one million laying hens and 300,000 broilers, while being supported by a 10,000-hectare agricultural estate for maize and soya cultivation to ensure steady feed supply.
Funding model
The project will be rolled out in phases.
The first two farms will be fully funded by the Nigerian government, while the remaining four will use a co-financing model under which Chinese investors will provide 85% of the funding, with the Nigerian government contributing the rest.
Tegbe said the Chinese financing package will run for 10 years, with a three-year moratorium, and added that the government ultimately plans to hand over operations to private Nigerian investors.
No official construction start date has been announced, although authorities say they hope to begin work during the dry season.
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Why it matters
The project is expected to help tackle Nigeria’s animal protein deficit, improve food security, and expand domestic poultry output.
Nigeria’s poultry industry currently produces around 700,000 tonnes of meat and 650,000 tonnes of eggs annually, according to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).
Despite a ban on chicken imports since 2003, the country continues to face significant illegal poultry inflows, reflecting persistent gaps in local supply. Agribusiness firm Olam Agri estimates that between $150 million and $200 million worth of poultry meat is smuggled into Nigeria each year.
Sector challenges
Even with its large size, Nigeria’s poultry sector continues to face several structural challenges, including high feed costs, biosecurity threats, animal disease outbreaks, and limited access to financing, especially for small-scale farmers.
NAERLS estimates Nigeria’s chicken population reached nearly 809.8 million birds in 2024, making poultry the largest livestock segment in the country’s agricultural economy.
If successfully implemented, the new project could significantly increase Nigeria’s poultry production capacity and reduce pressure on food imports.
