By Oluwakemi Kindness
A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the National Assembly to investigate the proposed $2.5 billion investment by Brazilian meat-processing company JBS in Nigeria.
The coalition wants the legislature to hold a public hearing on the deal and examine the agreements, environmental implications and potential impact on farmers, pastoralists and communities expected to host the facilities.
JBS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian government in November 2024 for the construction of six meat-processing plants over five years.
According to a statement by the coalition at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, Executive Director of the Youth Agroecology and Restoration Network, Opeyemi Elujulo, said the group was seeking greater transparency around the proposed investment.
Elujulo said attempts by the coalition to obtain details of the MoU through the Freedom of Information Act had not yielded the required information.
He argued that the terms of the proposed investment should be made available for public scrutiny before land is allocated or government resources are committed to the project.
The coalition also wants the National Assembly and relevant State Houses of Assembly to examine the environmental and social implications of the facilities, including their possible effects on land, water resources, local livelihoods and small-scale agricultural producers.
Elujulo said communities that would host the facilities should be involved in decisions affecting them, with adequate safeguards for their interests.
He also called for environmental impact assessments and enforceable protections for smallholder farmers, pastoralists, waterways, groundwater and animal welfare.
The coalition stressed that its position was not against foreign investment, but said major projects in the livestock sector should be implemented with adequate public accountability and protection for affected communities.
It further urged the government to involve relevant ministries and agencies, including those overseeing environment, agriculture, water, land, justice, finance and labour, in decisions relating to the JBS project.
