A coalition of civil society organisations and agricultural groups has demanded the immediate release of the full text of the agreement for a $2.5 billion livestock investment by Brazilian meat-processing giant, JBS, in Nigeria.
The group, which includes farmers’ groups, pastoralist associations, youth and women’s groups, and environmental and animal-welfare organisations, is seeking the full text of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and other agreements underpinning the proposed $2.5 billion livestock investment by Brazilian meat-processing giant, JBS, in Nigeria.
The demand is being made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, as stakeholders seek to understand the specific terms, obligations, and legal frameworks of the massive deal.
Concerns over land use and livelihoods
The scale of the investment has raised questions regarding land management and the rights of local communities. Pastoralist associations have expressed apprehension that the scale of the JBS operations could interfere with traditional grazing routes and access to essential water resources.
Similarly, farmers’ groups and environmental organisations are looking for clarity on how the project will affect local land ownership and the broader ecological landscape. Animal-welfare groups within the coalition are also seeking details regarding the standards for livestock management that will be implemented during the project.
While the Federal Government has previously highlighted the need for large-scale foreign direct investment to bolster food security and reduce the country’s reliance on meat imports, the coalition argues that such economic goals must be met with full transparency.
The coalition has stated that they are awaiting a response from the relevant government authorities and will pursue further legal action to enforce the provisions of the FOI Act if the documents are not made available for public scrutiny.
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