The federal government says it plans to introduce digital registration for cattle and other livestock as part of efforts to curb cattle rustling.
Idi Maiha, minister of livestock development, made this known on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the activities of his ministry and the implementation of the national ranching policy at the State House, Abuja.
Maiha said under the proposed system, cattle and other four-legged animals will be fitted with electronic ear tags containing identification and geolocation information as well as proof of ownership.
He noted that the electronic identification system would form part of a national livestock database that would enable authorities to identify and track animals.
He said the technology would also help establish ownership and assist in tracing animals that stray or are stolen.
The minister described the initiative as part of the government’s non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity in rural communities, particularly cattle rustling.
Beyond security, Maiha said the digital registration system would support the government’s plan to modernise livestock production and move the sector away from traditional methods.
FG TO CONVERT 417 GRAZING RESERVES INTO LIVESTOCK COMMUNITIES
Maiha said the electronic identification programme is being developed alongside the government’s plan to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves and transform them into integrated livestock communities.
According to him, the federal government also intends to begin the ranching programme with a pilot project in Plateau state before extending it to Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Maiha said the areas were prioritised because of their history of farmers-herders clashes.
He said the government’s ranching strategy is designed to reduce the movement of large herds by providing pasture, water, veterinary services and other infrastructure within designated livestock settlements.
“Why don’t you provide these resources in situ and stop these animals from moving? Human beings can move; they don’t cause crisis. It’s the animals’ movement that normally generates this crisis,” he said.
Maiha said the traditional system of livestock production had become increasingly difficult to sustain because grazing routes had been lost to agriculture, urbanisation and infrastructure development.
The minister said the proposed grazing reserves would be developed as economic communities rather than locations where cattle would simply be confined.
He said the facilities would have housing, primary schools, healthcare centres, veterinary clinics, solar power installations and earth dams for irrigation and pasture production.
“Large number of cattle on the move is crisis-prone because, number one, the grazing routes have disappeared. Farms, large farms have come up, aggressive urbanisation, demand for land for infrastructure development, so many other things have made nomadism not sustainable,” he said.
The government also expects the concentration of livestock in the reserves to attract private investment into milk production, dairy processing, meat processing and other parts of the livestock value chain.
OVERHAUL OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA
The ministry is also promoting improved livestock breeds and commercial pasture cultivation to increase productivity.
Maiha said improved breeds would allow pastoralists to keep fewer animals while producing more milk and meat.
He said pasture would be cultivated within livestock settlements or harvested elsewhere and transported to ranches.
The minister said the government was also working to modernise other areas of livestock production, including veterinary services, dairy production, abattoirs, fodder cultivation and vaccine storage.
He said seven model veterinary clinics had already been established, while the long-term plan was to have at least one model veterinary hospital in every state.
The government is also developing off-grid cold-chain facilities for animal vaccines to ensure they are stored and transported under appropriate conditions.
Maiha said the ministry was encouraging investment in modern abattoirs to replace open slaughter facilities.
He added that discussions were ongoing with local investors and development partners on large-scale dairy projects, while commercial fodder production was being promoted for domestic and export markets.
The poultry sector is also expected to receive government intervention, with the ministry considering large-scale importation of hatchable eggs as a short-term measure to address shortages and reduce delays for poultry producers seeking day-old chicks.
