Enugu State has officially embarked on an ambitious journey to become a major livestock and agricultural export centre in Southern Nigeria. The state government marked this strategic shift with two significant events on 29 December 2025: the commissioning of the newly built L-PRES Model Veterinary Hospital in Akwuke, Enugu South Local Council, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Enugu State Integrated Livestock Development Centre in Ubahu, Nkanu East.
A Gateway for Healthy Livestock and Global Trade
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Mbah, highlighted the critical importance of the new veterinary facility. He described it as essential infrastructure that will elevate livestock health, improve disease monitoring, and ensure safety standards. This is particularly vital for the state's goal of penetrating the international agro-export market.
"If our livestock produce will be accepted in the international market, this sort of infrastructure that guarantees the necessary precautions is indispensable," Ossai stated. He further emphasized Enugu's unique position as the primary gateway to Southern Nigeria, a major transit route for livestock moving from the Northern region. The hospital will enhance the state's capacity to diagnose and treat animals in transit, thereby improving national livestock logistics and safety.
Cornerstone of Agricultural Transformation
At the flag-off ceremony for the Integrated Livestock Development Centre, the Deputy Governor framed the project as a foundational element of the administration's agricultural transformation agenda. "This groundbreaking is driven by our desire to ensure that agriculture moves from sustenance to business and becomes a tool for poverty alleviation," he explained.
The government used the occasion to issue a strong invitation to investors, assuring them of a reformed and de-risked business environment. Key reforms and incentives highlighted include:
- A massive agricultural land bank with over 300,000 hectares available for investors.
- Streamlined processes and strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms to protect investments.
- A commitment to catalyzing private sector participation in modern agribusiness.
"Enugu State is open for business. We have invested heavily... We have reformed processes, de-risked investments and strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms," Ossai declared.
Collaboration for Sustainable Growth
The state government expressed gratitude to its partners in realizing these projects, notably the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the L-PRES programme supported by the World Bank. A call was made for enhanced collaboration with the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to boost veterinary training and research.
In his concluding remarks, the Deputy Governor connected the projects directly to the administration's core promise of lifting citizens from poverty to prosperity. "With critical infrastructure such as this, we are catalyzing growth, creating wealth, and improving the prosperity of our people," he said. These initiatives represent a concrete step towards positioning Enugu as a self-sufficient, business-oriented agricultural powerhouse in the region.
