Nigeria-Morocco Agribusiness Pact: Gombe Eyes Big Gains In Meat Processing, Vet Innovation, Value Chain Boost

The Gombe State Government has joined the Federal Government’s high-level delegation to Morocco in a renewed bilateral engagement aimed at expanding agribusiness collaboration, strengthening livestock production, and deepening veterinary innovation.

Gombe State was represented during the mission by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas M. Malle, the State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, and representative from Gombe state House of Assembly.

The visit, held from November 9 to 14, 2025, focused on livestock export, agribusiness development, and veterinary innovation, which are areas that align closely with the ongoing investments in modern livestock infrastructure and value-chain systems in Gombe State.

The state delegation joined the Federal Government team, led by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the National Coordinator of L-PRES, Malam Sanusi Abubakar, engaging Morocco’s top agricultural institutions through strategic meetings, factory inspections and technical briefings aimed at unlocking new trade and technical opportunities for Nigerian states, with Gombe standing out as a prime beneficiary.
During the study tour, the delegation gained insights into Morocco’s agricultural financing and development models, red meat value chain modernization and the successful operation of integrated agribusiness clusters, which are highly relevant to Gombe State’s ongoing Agro-Livestock Development Zone.

The mission also provided exposure to world-class livestock genetic improvement systems at the Kenitra Artificial Insemination Centre, integrated dairy farm and processing plants demonstrating modern milk-to-meat value chains, and Casablanca poultry farms and training institutes that showcase scalable commercial models.

Discussions further focused on food safety and export certification, meat-processing standards, irrigation technologies, and veterinary systems necessary for advancing livestock productivity.

Through this partnership, Gombe State is set to benefit significantly from strengthened livestock genetics, gaining access to advanced artificial insemination and breeding technologies that will improve local breeds, boost dairy productivity, enhance meat quality, and increase disease resistance.

The collaboration also directly supports the state’s Ultramodern Abattoir and International Livestock Market, being established by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, facilitating their smooth operation, international certification, and readiness for export markets.

Also, Gombe stands to attract Moroccan agribusiness investments and benefit from technical expertise in water harvesting, small-scale irrigation, and pasture development, all of which are critical for the state’s grazing reserves and livestock clusters.

The establishment of a Joint Technical Working Group, with Gombe prominently represented, ensures that the state will directly benefit from upcoming cooperation agreements, including the formal Memorandum of Understanding scheduled for signing at the SIAM Agriculture Show in April 2026.