The speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Naanlong Daniel, has hailed the groundbreaking ceremony of the 500-cattle-per-day ultra-modern abattoir in Heipang, Barkin Ladi local government area, as a bold and visionary step that will accelerate economic growth, create jobs, and reposition Plateau State as a leading agro-industrial hub in Nigeria.
Speaking shortly after the ceremony in Heipang, Barkin Ladi local government area, the speaker commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his foresight and commitment to diversifying Plateau’s economy through strategic investments in agriculture and livestock development.
“This groundbreaking exercise is not just about laying blocks in Heipang. It is about laying a new foundation for Plateau’s economy,” the speaker said, adding that “Governor Mutfwang has taken the right step in the right direction. This ultra-modern abattoir is a legacy project that will unlock wealth, restore confidence in our agricultural sector, and set Plateau on the path of industrial transformation.”
Naanlong described the facility as a catalytic investment that will move Plateau from subsistence livestock trading to value-driven agro-processing, noting that the 500-cattle-per-day capacity plant will serve not only Plateau but the neighbouring states, as well as create a regional market for hygienically processed meat and related products.
“The days of open, unhygienic slaughtering of animals are coming to an end. This facility, built to international standards, will guarantee food safety, reduce disease risk, and restore consumer confidence in the meat we consume,” he added.
He emphasised that the abattoir will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Plateau youths and women. Beyond the plant itself, the speaker, outlined the broad economic ripple effect across the livestock value chain, which he categorized under, up, mid and down streams.
Explaining further, Daniel said under upstream, farmers and pastoralists will benefit from a modern, transparent market for healthy livestock, leading to better prices and improved animal husbandry practices.
The speaker stressed that under the midstream, transporters, feed suppliers, veterinarians, cold-chain operators, and waste-to-wealth processors will see increase in business, given facility’s capacity to convert by-products like hides, bones, and blood into leather, fertilizer, and animal feed, among other benefits.
Under the downstream benefits, he said butchers, retailers, restaurants, and supermarkets will gain access to a steady supply of hygienically processed beef, while consumers will enjoy safer meat at more stable prices, and expressed optimism that in the long term, certified products from the plant can access interstate and export markets.
“This project will turn Heipang into an economic corridor for farmers in the field to the retailers in the market, as every link in the chain will feel the impact,” he stated.
The speaker assured investors and development partners of continued legislative support.
“The 10th Assembly will provide the enabling laws, oversight, and policy backing needed to protect farmers, attract investments, and ensure this facility operates at full capacity for the benefit of our people,” he said.
He congratulated the people of Heipang and Barkin Lad local government area for hosting the landmark project and expressed confidence that the abattoir would serve as a catalyst for prosperity, industrialization, and sustainable economic transformation in Plateau State and beyond.
