Nigeria Spent N660bn on Imported Chicken in 2014

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Wednesday revealed that 1.2 million metric tonnes(MT) of frozen chicken valued at N660,000 billion was imported into the country in 2014. This, according to the association, was four times higher than what was produced locally, and exceeding the current industry capacity.

The National President of PAN, Dr. Ayo Oduntan, gave the revelation at a workshop in Abuja, on ‘The Health and Economic Implications of Smuggled Poultry Products on Nigeria Economy,’ stressing that Nigeria presently consumes  1.5 million MT of frozen chicken annually.

According to him, the risks inherent in consumption of products that are not thoroughly scrutinised are enormous, noting that the efforts of local producers however, continue to face the daunting obstacles posed by the activities of smugglers of poultry meat into the Nigerian market.

Oduntan explained that while locally farmed poultry meats are sold without preservation, the smuggled ones are preserved with hazardous chemicals, adding that formalin load in all smuggled poultry products ranges from 42.9 to 63.3ml/kg.

He noted: “As at 2014, locally produced chicken was estimated at 300,000MT, a capacity utilisation of 46 per cent in an industry that currently boasts of a 650,000MT installed capacity. . In the same year, 1.2 million MT of frozen chicken, valued at N660 billion (equivalent to $2.75 billion) was imported.”

The president emphasised that to fully utilise the balance of the industry’s installed capacity of additional 350, 000MT would translate to significant benefits through the provision of 350,000 new jobs in maize production, 75,000 in processing and 500,000 jobs in ancillary raw materials.

“Reducing smuggling by 30 per cent will result to the creation of about one million jobs. So, why not do away with smuggling, and stop exporting jobs from Nigeria, by enriching other. Nations?” Oduntan queried.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Nigeria Institute of Animal Science, Dr. Godwin Oyediji said the institute is moving into the industry educating farmers on best farming practices, especially poultry farmers.

He added that the institute has also developed a feed milling operating standard, stressing that it would soon be commencing feed premises registration and poultry premises registration, in order to make sure that farmers are well educated and o ensure the safety of their products.