Groups question JBS’ $2.5bn investment plans in Nigeria

Civil society organisations and environmentalists in Nigeria have questioned the proposed $2.5 billion investment by JBS, the world’s largest meat-processing company, in the country.

The groups said the investment, if not properly scrutinised and regulated, could have far-reaching implications for land, water resources, local livelihoods, smallholder farmers and the environment.

They raised the concerns at a stakeholder convening in Abuja on Wednesday, organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in partnership with Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and the HEDA Resource Centre.

The two-day event, which ended on Thursday, featured discussions on JBS’ proposed investment and the implications of industrial-scale livestock production in Nigeria.

The groups later staged a peaceful demonstration at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, before submitting a petition on the proposed JBS investment to the Ministry of Livestock Development.

The JBS investment

In November 2024, JBS announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian government to invest in food security and develop sustainable supply chains in the country.

“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 to the Special Assistant to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, Abubakar Sadiq, had not received a response at the time of filing this report.

‘We are not anti-investment’

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mariann Bassey-Olsson, Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action, said the groups were not opposed to foreign investment but wanted the government to ensure that such investments did not harm communities or the environment.

She said civil society organisations had repeatedly requested access to the JBS MoU but had not received it.

“We are not anti-investment. We want investments that will not negatively impact our people, the environment and generations to come,” Ms Bassey-Olsson, said.

She said the organisations were particularly concerned about JBS’ environmental record in countries where it operates and wanted the Nigerian government to conduct proper due diligence before allowing the project to commence.

“We don’t want them to come here and repeat the experiences we have had with companies like Shell. We have watched Shell’s activities. They come, promise heaven, and then leave communities devastated,” she said.

Mrs Bassey-Olsson, said the government needed to clarify whether environmental impact assessments had been conducted and how issues relating to land, water, pollution and waste management would be handled.

“If they come, they are going to need a lot of land to set up these plants. Have they done an assessment? What about water? What about pollution and contamination?” she asked.

She also raised concerns about the potential impact of the investment on pastoralists, livestock farmers and indigenous breeds.

“Are they going to bring in their cattle, or are they going to source cattle locally? Are they going to use indigenous cattle?” she asked, adding that imported livestock could also raise concerns about disease risks.

Mrs Bassey-Olsson, said the scale of the proposed investment also raised questions about market concentration.

“We need disclosure. We need to be protected. We don’t want a concentration of power. Are they going to have a monopoly over the poultry, beef and pork industries?” she asked.

According to her, the government must prioritise people’s interests and ensure that JBS is transparent and accountable.

“We are not anti-investment. We are pro-people. We say that it is people first, rules for business, people over profit.”

“No evidence of adequate preparation”

Joyce Brown, another participant at the convening, said the major concern was the apparent lack of adequate preparation for an investment of such magnitude.

“There are a number of concerns, but the major one is that we don’t see adequate preparation for this investment, considering its scale,” she said.

Mrs Brown said the project would require large areas of land, significant water resources and could substantially affect local economies, particularly small-scale livestock producers.

She called for an inter-agency assessment involving the ministries and government agencies whose mandates could be affected by the project.

“For example, an MoU has been signed by the Ministry of Livestock Development. Is the Ministry of Environment involved? Have they had an opportunity to conduct their own assessment of the proposal submitted by JBS?” she asked.

She also questioned whether the ministries of Health and Industry, Trade and Investment, as well as relevant conservation agencies, had been involved.

Mrs Brown said every investment proposal, irrespective of its size or source, should be subjected to proper scrutiny.

“Investments of this nature, especially industrial-scale farming, have implications for waste management, land allocation and public health,” she said.

She also expressed concern over JBS’ record in other countries, particularly Brazil, where the company originated.

“There have been reports of tax evasion, loss of livelihoods among local communities where JBS operates, and concerns around carbon emissions that have increased because of the scale of its operations,” she said.

According to her, the secrecy surrounding the Nigerian investment was itself a concern.

“Why is the MoU not in the public domain?” she asked.

Mrs Brown called on the government to immediately publish the MoU and other agreements relating to the investment and conduct environmental, social and economic impact assessments.

“We need the MoU to be made public now because if it is released after JBS is already in full operation in Nigeria, it will be very difficult to do anything about any problems that may arise,” she said.

She also called for the involvement of the National Assembly, relevant ministries and agencies in assessing the project and developing safeguards.

“Communities should not bear the brunt of an investment that does not benefit them,” she said.

HEDA raises land, livelihood concerns

Mayowa Shobo of the HEDA Resource Centre said his organisation became interested in the JBS project because of the company’s reported environmental and human rights record in other countries.

He said HEDA’s research had identified significant information gaps surrounding the proposed Nigerian investment.

“Our research was able to uncover that there are still significant gaps in information about exactly what this investment will bring,” Mr Shobo said.

According to him, communities, livestock farmers and other stakeholders were more interested in a cooperative model that would allow them to participate in the meat production and distribution chain rather than a model in which one company controls the entire value chain.

“When you disrupt the existing supply chain, it does not only affect the communities directly. It also affects businesses and other stakeholders,” he said.

He said there were still inadequate safeguards for people whose land could be acquired for the project.

“What exactly is the arrangement for them? What is the grievance mechanism? What is the compensation framework?” he asked.

Mr Shobo said promises of employment and financial compensation from state governments were not sufficient without clearly defined frameworks.

He also warned that existing Nigerian agribusinesses could face pressure from JBS because of the multinational’s access to capital and ability to operate at scale.

“JBS has almost unlimited access to capital and can operate at a scale that these local companies may not be able to match,” he said.

He said some local businesses could be forced to join the JBS supply chain or risk being pushed out of the market.

Asked for his recommendation, Mr Shobo said: “Investments should lead to food-system transformation, not the displacement of lives, livelihoods and businesses.”

He said the government should use the investment to improve livestock infrastructure and build the capacity of farmers and state institutions.

“If this investment goes into developing infrastructure and building the capacity of farmers and state institutions to improve the livestock sector, then it is welcome.

“But if it is simply an investment model that brings in money and buys up large tracts of land while displacing existing livelihoods and businesses, then it is unacceptable.”

Niger livestock farmers seek clarity

Abdulraheem Saba, Chairman of the National Sheep and Goat Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, said livestock farmers in the state had limited information about the proposed JBS investment.

“I am only hearing from the news media that JBS is coming with a major investment in livestock production in Niger State. That’s all I can say,” he said.

Mr Saba said his concern was not necessarily the investment itself but how it would be implemented and its potential impact on existing livelihoods.

“Wherever they want to establish the facilities, there are existing livelihoods there which might be displaced or replaced by the project. What happens afterwards to the communities affected? We don’t know,” he said.

He called on the Niger State Government to embark on widespread sensitisation and public engagement before the project begins.

“Since it is a programme that the government is clearly interested in, it should let people know the aims and objectives of the project and how it is expected to benefit the community,” he said.

Mr Saba said he had heard that some of the proposed facilities could be located in Tawa and some grazing-reserve areas, but said he had no official information on the exact locations.

He warned that inadequate public communication could fuel rumours and undermine public acceptance of the investment.

Farmers seek infrastructure, financing

Mr Saba also called for investment in livestock infrastructure and financing for small-scale farmers.

He said insecurity had made it increasingly difficult for farmers to keep livestock safely, while high interest rates had limited their access to commercial financing.

“The government needs to come in and allow people to form cooperative societies on a common ground where farmers can raise their animals securely and have confidence that their livestock will be protected,” he said.

He urged commercial banks to reduce lending rates to enable farmers to expand their operations.

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“We are not saying the government should simply give us money from its pocket. But let commercial banks reduce their high interest rates and allow our farmers to access financing so that they can grow their farms, businesses and livestock operations,” he said.

Mr Saba said livestock farmers would welcome interventions that improve indigenous breeds, including the expansion of artificial insemination programmes to sheep and goats.

“We are looking forward to improvement,” he said. “If that is done, obviously, Niger State will become a place of opportunity for livestock farmers.”

The civil society groups maintained that the proposed JBS investment could contribute to Nigeria’s food-security goals if properly designed and implemented, but insisted that transparency, environmental safeguards, community participation and protection of existing livelihoods must come before the project is fully implemented.