Nigeria’s poultry industry is set for a major overhaul with the launch of the US$1 billion National Integrated Poultry Project, part of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), aimed at strengthening domestic production and reducing reliance on imports, Poultry World reports.
The initiative, announced in early 2026, has kicked off pilot operations in Enugu, Kaduna, and Oyo states, with plans for nationwide expansion in 2027. The project targets increased egg and broiler production while tackling persistent feed shortages, a major bottleneck for the country’s poultry sector.
At the Chinese New Year Temple Fair in Abuja, NCSP director-general Joseph Tegbe outlined the first phase, emphasizing integrated farming that links poultry rearing with large-scale maize and soybean cultivation. This approach is designed to ensure a sustainable supply of feed for Nigeria’s growing poultry population.
The project adopts a full-spectrum model, including feed production, hatcheries, layer and broiler farms, processing plants, cold storage, and distribution networks. Once fully operational, it is expected to house over 7 million laying hens and 2 million broilers, producing around 6 million eggs daily.
To directly address the feed crisis, the initiative plans to cultivate 60,000 hectares of maize and soybeans. Subsidized feed will also be available to smallholder farmers, helping stabilize costs even beyond the new facilities. Additionally, technology transfer, joint research, and scholarship programs under the NCSP will foster long-term growth in agritech and poultry management.
Kaduna State will lead the project with a US$200 million investment, developing 10,000 hectares to integrate feed crops, processing, and logistics, generating thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in output. Enugu and Oyo will host pilot sites to test scalability before a nationwide rollout in 2027.
Overall, the National Integrated Poultry Project is expected to create tens of thousands of direct jobs, with additional employment opportunities in supply chains and processing. By reducing poultry imports, the initiative also aims to improve food security, lower consumer prices for eggs and meat, and position Nigeria as a future exporter of processed poultry products. Early pilot results as of March 2026 indicate the project is gaining momentum toward these objectives.
