Nigeria Targets Livestock Digital System for Sector Efficiency

News in Brief:

-The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and OneServe Technologies have launched a National Livestock Digital Public Infrastructure to modernise livestock operations.

-This system will improve regulation, data management, and coordination across Nigeria’s livestock value chain, advancing food security and agribusiness growth.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has entered into a partnership with OneServe Technologies Limited to roll out a National Livestock Digital Public Infrastructure (NLDPI), a move aimed at modernising Nigeria’s livestock industry.

Announcing the initiative in Abuja during a courtesy visit from OneServe Technologies, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, said the new system will help regulate livestock movement and improve coordination across the sector.

“Only registered wagons under the new digital system will be authorised to convey animals across the country,” Maiha stated, adding that the ministry plans to introduce custom-made livestock transport vehicles to standardise animal movement nationwide.

Building a Central Database for the Livestock Value Chain

Maiha highlighted that the digital infrastructure will serve as a national data backbone for the livestock industry, enabling better planning, disease control, and market coordination. He stressed that the ministry’s priority is to ensure transparency and efficiency through accurate data and a robust national master plan.

From OneServe’s side, Team Lead Ibrahim Ahmed explained that the system will integrate vital information such as market locations, livestock breeds, veterinary services, and operational days. Users will also be able to access details of registered veterinarians, transporters, and other stakeholders.

“When I click on a market link, I will see all registered doctors, transport companies, and other operators with their addresses, especially those closest to that market,” Ahmed explained.

Strengthening Nigeria’s Livestock Reforms

The partnership comes after the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) on July 9, 2024, separating it from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to give livestock the dedicated attention it deserves. The move reflects the government’s recognition that livestock development has lagged in national agricultural reforms.

The new ministry oversees critical departments such as breeding, animal health, veterinary public health, and extension services, to transform livestock farming into a sustainable and competitive sector.

Linking Data to Better Livestock Management

Nigeria already operates the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS), which tracks animals using digital tags and passports to enhance disease surveillance and food safety. The new NLDPI is expected to complement and expand this system, enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven policymaking.

Experts believe that digitalisation could address persistent challenges in the livestock industry, including poor data quality, fragmented markets, and low private investment and help smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and agripreneurs access better services.

Learning from Global and Regional Models

As part of its reform process, the ministry recently visited Tanzania to study its livestock transformation model, which has recorded success in breed improvement, extension services, and value addition. Nigeria aims to adapt these lessons to local realities to strengthen its National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP).

With digital tools increasingly shaping global livestock systems from mobile apps for breeding to AI-based disease tracking, Nigeria’s latest move signals a step toward a more data-driven, resilient, and productive livestock sector.