FG Cracks Down on Poultry Import Abuse, Targets Supply Shortages with Tougher Oversight

By Pan Afric Reporters 

The Federal Government has unveiled fresh measures to address persistent shortages in Nigeria’s poultry industry, announcing plans to tighten oversight of poultry import allocations and link future approvals to performance as part of efforts to boost local production, reduce costs, and improve access to day-old chicks for farmers nationwide.

The move comes amid growing concerns that many industry operators have failed to fully utilize approved import quotas, a development blamed for supply gaps, rising production costs, and limited access to critical poultry inputs across the country.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development signed by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, the new policy direction was disclosed by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during a meeting in Abuja with the Managing Director of Valentine Chickens, Leon Gunter, and the company’s National Operations Manager, Samuel Adediji.

Maiha said government interventions in the poultry sector must produce tangible results for both farmers and consumers, stressing that public support should directly translate into increased production and improved food security.

“We want a very firm commitment from industry operators. This is about national security, job creation and livelihoods. Government support must translate into increased production, improved availability and better access for farmers across the country,” the Minister stated.

He disclosed that assessments conducted by the Ministry revealed that a significant percentage of approved poultry import allocations had not been fully utilized, creating avoidable supply constraints that continue to drive up the cost of day-old chicks.

“The objective of government is clear—to ensure that opportunities created through public policy translate into increased production, lower barriers to entry for farmers, greater affordability, and sustainable growth across the poultry sector,” Maiha said.

“There is no reason why opportunities created through government support should not translate into increased production. Once approvals are granted, we expect implementation. Going forward, allocations will be closely monitored and linked to performance.”

$5.6 Million Investment Proposal

As part of efforts to strengthen domestic poultry production and reduce dependence on imports, Valentine Chickens presented a proposal for a $5.6 million investment in local grandparent stock production infrastructure.

The project, being developed in partnership with Aviagen, a global leader in poultry genetics, is expected to establish specialized breeding facilities and advanced biosecurity systems capable of significantly increasing local poultry production capacity.

Explaining the significance of the initiative, Valentine Chickens Managing Director, Leon Gunter, said the investment would go beyond ordinary poultry imports and provide the foundation for long-term industry growth.

“This is not simply the importation of day-old chicks; it is the importation of genetic capacity that can multiply into millions of locally produced birds and strengthen the country’s poultry industry for the long term,” Gunter said.

According to projections presented during the meeting, an annual importation of 116,800 grandparent breeding chicks could generate about 2 million parent stock females, leading to the production of approximately 273 million commercial broiler chickens and 378,000 metric tonnes of chicken meat annually.

National Database to Track Imports

In a major regulatory shift, the Ministry also announced plans to establish a centralized national database to monitor every imported Grandparent Stock (GPS) and Parent Stock (PS) egg and chick entering the country.

Officials said the initiative is designed to improve transparency, eliminate inefficiencies in the allocation process, support smallholder farmers, and ensure that poultry products reach consumers at more affordable prices.

The Ministry noted that the new framework would help break down barriers to entry for emerging poultry farmers while boosting Nigeria’s relatively low per-capita poultry consumption and strengthening the country’s food security agenda.

Industry stakeholders have welcomed the reforms as a critical step toward building a more resilient and self-sufficient poultry sector capable of meeting growing domestic demand while creating jobs and investment opportunities across the livestock value chain.

This version is optimized for immediate online publication, with a stronger news angle, clearer structure, and media-friendly presentation.