CSOs demand disclosure of JBS $2.5bn Nigeria deal, warn of livestock expansion risks

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has demanded the immediate disclosure of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian government and JBS, the world’s largest meat-processing company, over a proposed $2.5 billion investment in Nigeria.

The demand is the central highlight of the resolution made at a three-day coalition workshop in Abuja. The workshop was focused on the expansion of industrial livestock production in Nigeria and it was held from 22 to 24 September in Abuja.

The coalition comprises civil society organisations, farmer groups, pastoralist associations, youth and women’s groups, and environmental and animal-welfare organisations.

JBS in Nigeria

PREMIUM TIMES reported that JBS and the Nigerian government signed an MoU in November 2024 for a proposed five-year, $2.5 billion investment involving six meat-processing facilities — three poultry, two beef and one pork plant.

“Our goal is to establish a strong partnership and support Nigeria in addressing food insecurity. Our experience in regions where we operate worldwide shows that developing a sustainable food production chain creates a ‘virtuous’ cycle of socio-economic progress, particularly for vulnerable populations,” Gilberto Tomazoni, JBS Global CEO, said at the time.

Under the agreement, JBS said it would develop a five-year investment plan covering feasibility studies, preliminary project designs, budget estimates and an action plan for supply-chain development.

The Nigerian government, in turn, would provide the necessary economic, sanitary and regulatory conditions for the project.

The agreement provides for the construction of six plants—three poultry plants, two beef plants and one pork plant—with an estimated investment of $2.5 billion.

The company’s proposed investment has been presented as an opportunity to expand domestic protein production, reduce imports, create jobs and support millions of small-scale farmers.

According to information contained in the investment announcement, protein production in Nigeria accounts for about 10 per cent of GDP and supplies roughly 40 per cent of domestic demand.

However, environmental and civil society groups say there is insufficient publicly available information about the project, particularly regarding the amount of land that could be allocated to JBS and the potential social and environmental consequences.

Niger State officials have reportedly said the state could make available about 1.2 million hectares of land for the project—an area of nearly three million acres.

Details of the proposed land allocation and the specific terms of the investment, however, remain unclear.

PREMIUM TIMES’ request for details of the project, sent more than a month ago to the Special Assistant to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, Abubakar Sadiq, had still not received a response at the time of filing this report.

In a communique issued after the workshop and signed by Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network​, Health of Mother Earth Foundation​, Environmental Rights Action​ and HEDA Resource Center, the coalition said the agreement and related documents had not been made public, making it difficult for citizens and affected communities to assess the terms and potential environmental, social and economic implications of the investment.

It said its Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and relevant ministries in Ogun and Niger states had not yielded the information sought.

Coalition raises transparency concerns

In the communiqué, the groups said the JBS MoU, related agreements, financing arrangements and any Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) remained undisclosed.

It also questioned the absence of meaningful consultation with communities that could host the proposed facilities.

“Decisions on how Nigeria feeds its people must be taken in the open, with the informed participation of the farmers, pastoralists and communities whose land, water and livelihoods are at stake,” the coalition said.

The groups called on the Federal Government to publish the full JBS MoU and all related contracts, partnership frameworks, financing terms and government incentives.

They also demanded disclosure of the beneficial ownership of private investment vehicles involved in the project.

The coalition said independent ESIAs covering cumulative impacts on land, water and ecosystems should be completed and published before further land allocation or construction takes place.

It further called for meaningful participation and what it described as free, prior and informed consent of affected communities.

Environmental, health concerns

The coalition said large-scale industrial livestock production could create environmental pressures, including increased animal waste, groundwater contamination, air pollution, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions.

It also raised concerns about public health and antimicrobial resistance associated with intensive animal-confinement systems.

The groups argued that Nigeria should strengthen existing pastoralist, smallholder farming, traditional poultry and agroecological systems rather than focusing disproportionately on industrial livestock production.

They said food security should be assessed not only in terms of increased production but also by examining who benefits, who controls resources and whether local food systems and ecosystems are strengthened.

The coalition cited JBS’s operations and expansion in Australia as a case study it said Nigeria should examine before proceeding with the proposed investment.

Calls for government oversight

The groups urged the Federal Government to ensure coordination among ministries and agencies responsible for livestock, agriculture, environment, water, land, finance, labour and justice in decisions concerning the investment.

They also called on the National Assembly and state legislatures to hold public hearings on the JBS-Nigeria agreement and implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan and the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan 2026–2040.

READ ALSO: Nigeria, West Africa can emerge as global oil pricing hub — S&P Global

The coalition urged lawmakers to demand the disclosure of agreements and environmental assessments associated with the proposed investment.

It also called for stronger safeguards for smallholder farmers and pastoralists, including protection of land rights, market access, bargaining power and local processing capacity.

The groups said they would continue pursuing information through FOI requests and other lawful channels while undertaking joint investigations into the proposed investment.

They said the investigations would examine the commitments contained in the MoU, environmental and social safeguards, ownership and financial interests behind the investment, and the condition of Nigeria’s food and seed systems.

The coalition also pledged to promote agroecological and farmer-led food systems, indigenous knowledge and local seed systems.

It called on journalists and media organisations to independently investigate the proposed investment and give prominence to the experiences of affected farmers, pastoralists and communities.

The groups also urged JBS, its financiers and investors to disclose its Nigerian plans, conduct appropriate due diligence and respect the land rights of affected communities.

JBS has previously said its proposed Nigerian investment is intended to strengthen food security and develop sustainable local supply chains. The company says the six planned facilities are expected to support local production and reduce reliance on food imports.

The coalition, however, said Nigeria should ensure that any major livestock investment is transparent, environmentally sustainable and accountable to the communities affected by it.

The groups said their campaign against the proposed JBS expansion was ultimately about transparency, public accountability and participation in decisions shaping Nigeria’s food system.