The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has described the poultry industry as one of the fastest pathways to achieving food security, creating jobs and generating wealth in Nigeria.
National Vice-President of PAN, South-East Region, Izuolisa Onu, stated this on Wednesday, 9th of September 2026 at the opening ceremony of the two-day Eastern International Poultry Summit (EIPS) 2026 in Enugu.
Onu described the summit as the biggest poultry exhibition in South-East Nigeria, bringing together poultry farmers, industry experts, exhibitors and other stakeholders from across the region and beyond.
He, however, highlighted rising costs of poultry feed and day-old chicks, weak cold-chain logistics and limited access to finance as major challenges confronting the industry.
According to him, addressing these constraints is essential to unlocking the full potential of the poultry sector and strengthening its contribution to food security and economic development.
Also speaking, Benjamin Kuja, Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Enugu, described the summit as timely and significant.
Kuja said the establishment of the ministry reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
He described livestock as “another oil for Nigeria,” noting that its full potential would become evident with time.
Jonathan Ossai, who represented the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Patrick Ubru, said the Enugu State Government had continued to prioritize livestock development.
Ossai said Governor Peter Mbah was committed to partnering with PAN to promote the growth and development of poultry and other livestock businesses in the state.
Similarly, Cliff Ogbede, Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, South-East Development Commission, said agro-industrialization in the region was part of the commission’s mandate.
Ogbede said the commission would collaborate with PAN to create jobs and expand the poultry sector across the South-East.
