Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Federal Government to make public the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with JBS before the company commences operations in Nigeria.
The call was made during a one-day stakeholders’ workshop held to examine the potential implications of adopting industrial animal farming in the country.
JBS, the world’s largest meat corporation headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, operates across five continents. However, the company has in recent years faced multiple allegations and legal actions relating to environmental degradation, labour violations, and misleading sustainability claims.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Mariann Bassey-Olsson, Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action, warned that JBS’s entry into Nigeria could pose serious risks to the environment and local farmers if issues of due diligence and transparency were not adequately addressed.
Bassey-Olsson urged the government to conduct and publish a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the agreement is implemented.
She emphasised that Nigerians deserve to know the content of the agreement and the potential risks involved.
“Our lives matter, and it should be people over profit. We have seen multinational ventures that left communities polluted and economically broken. We are not anti-development; we only want investments carried out responsibly, protecting people, the environment, and future generations,” she said.
She also cited reports from Greenpeace linking JBS to alleged illegal practices in Brazil, including pollution, tax evasion, and unethical cattle sourcing, warning that such issues should not be ignored.
Ms. Joyce Brown, Director of Programmes at the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), expressed similar concerns, alleging that JBS’s industrial farming activities could lead to water pollution, land grabbing, and the displacement of smallholder farmers.
According to her, food products from such companies are often exported, offering little benefit to host communities and doing little to improve food security locally.
“The government must ensure full environmental assessments before approving such investments. There must also be stronger regulations and community involvement before any agreement is signed,” Brown stressed.
However, Dr. Jude Udiandeye, Director of Veterinary Services at the Cross River State Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture, argued that industrial farming could boost food production if properly regulated and monitored.
He noted that Nigeria could no longer rely solely on subsistence farming to feed its growing population, urging authorities at all levels to enforce strict environmental standards for multinationals operating in the country.
Similarly, Mr. Bassey Emogor, Programme Manager at the Cross River Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), underscored the need for proper consultation and transparency before granting land to multinational investors.
He advised companies to liaise with state agricultural agencies to ensure fairness and protect farmers’ interests.
In November 2024, the Federal Government signed a letter of intent with JBS for a $2.5 billion investment in Nigeria’s livestock sector, which includes plans to establish six modern meat-processing plants across the country.
