Farmers, researchers, scientists and civil society organisations yesterday called on the Federal Government to make public the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with Brazilian meat giant JBS S.A., warning that secrecy surrounding the deal could expose Nigeria to another resource crisis similar to the challenges associated with the oil sector.

According to them, they welcomed foreign investment in Nigeria’s livestock industry but expressed concern over its potential implications for public health, the environment, local economies and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

They made their position known on Wednesday at a South-West regional workshop in Abeokuta, Ogun State, themed “Sustainable Alternatives to Industrial Animal Farming: Pathways to Resilient Food System in Nigeria.”

In 2024, the Federal Government signed a letter of intent with JBS S.A. for a proposed $2.5 billion investment in Nigeria’s livestock sector.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu witnessed the signing ceremony on November 21, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The proposed investment includes the construction of six meat-processing factories and is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s meat-processing industry.

Speaking at the workshop, the Director of Consultancy at Youths in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), Oluwaseyi Olawuyi, said the deal should be subjected to comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments and transparent public scrutiny before implementation.

Olawuyi said access to the MoU was necessary to determine whether the proposed investment adequately protects public health, the environment and the interests of smallholder farmers.

He described industrial animal farming as a system in which large numbers of animals are confined in concentrated areas for commercial production, arguing that while investors have the right to make profits, development policies should also prioritise communities, ecosystems and long-term sustainability.

“We’ve been hearing about JBS coming to Nigeria to invest, it’s a thing of joy for us, but we just have to look at the implication that this will have on various segments. We look at the health, social economy, environment, and so on. And there’s need for us to weigh it, look at the pros and cons,” he said.

He stressed that civil society organisations were not opposed to development or foreign investment but wanted the terms of the agreement made available for public scrutiny.

According to him, transparency at the beginning of the project would allow stakeholders to identify and address potential concerns before JBS begins operations in Nigeria.

Olawuyi also drew a comparison with Nigeria’s experience in the oil industry, warning that inadequate oversight and mismanagement could turn an investment initially viewed as beneficial into a long-term liability.

“We are not saying JBS should not come, but let us guide them, so that what we experienced in the oil sector, will not be experienced again,” he said.

He further raised concerns over the whereabouts of the MoU, saying repeated efforts to obtain the document had produced conflicting responses from government authorities.

“We reached out to the Federal Minister of Livestock, they said the MoU was domiciled with states. Then we reached out to Ogun, Niger, Cross River and some other states. They said it was domiciled with federal government. It’s just like a puzzle,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of Operations at YARN, Dare Elujulo, called for a food system capable of withstanding climate shocks, disease outbreaks and supply-chain disruptions.

Elujulo urged Nigerians to look beyond conventional animal protein and promote alternative sources such as cowpeas, soybeans, bambara nuts, indigenous poultry and mushrooms.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, the stakeholders called for greater public investment in agroecological, community-led, climate-resilient and diversified food systems rather than disproportionate support for industrial animal farming.

They specifically demanded the public disclosure of the JBS S.A. MoU by the Federal and relevant state governments to enable citizens, civil society organisations, researchers and affected communities to scrutinise its terms and potential implications.

The stakeholders further urged government to protect smallholder farmers, pastoralists, indigenous communities and communal land rights through due process, consultation, transparency and fair compensation.

They maintained that public investment should prioritise diversified and resilient food systems capable of protecting livelihoods, strengthening food sovereignty and preserving Nigeria’s ecological health. (Daily Trust)