Nigeria, Argentina Advance Livestock Cooperation

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Argentina in the area of livestock development, as part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector and enhance global competitiveness.

This position was expressed by the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, when he received the Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, Nicolás Perazzo María Naón, who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Welcoming the Ambassador and his delegation, the Minister highlighted the long-standing diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Argentina, which date back to 1963 when Argentina established its embassy in Nigeria.

He noted that the relationship between both countries has continued to grow steadily over the past six decades, with shared positions on several international issues and expanding areas of economic cooperation.

"The creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s efforts to reposition the livestock sector as a major driver of food security, job creation and economic growth," the Minister said.

He observed that Argentina remains one of the world’s leading exporters of red meat and a global leader in livestock production, noting that the country produces nearly three million tonnes of beef annually and has achieved its highest level of red meat exports in a century.

“We see enormous opportunities for collaboration with Argentina in strengthening our livestock industry. Their global leadership in beef, pork and poultry production offers valuable knowledge that can help Nigeria unlock the potential within its own livestock sector,” the Minister said.

He further noted that Nigeria is working to transition from open grazing systems to modern, sedentary and private sector-driven ranching models, and expressed optimism that Argentina’s experience in managing large-scale ranching systems could provide useful insights for Nigeria’s ongoing reforms.

Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Nicolás Perazzo María Naón expressed Argentina’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in the livestock sector through the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries.

The Ambassador noted that Argentina is eager to share its expertise in livestock development with Nigeria and expressed hope that the proposed agreement would be advanced quickly to facilitate practical collaboration and knowledge exchange.

He added that Argentina considers Nigeria an important partner in Africa and is keen to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and livestock production for the mutual benefit of both nations.

Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu
Head, Press and Public Relations 
16th March, 2026