FG to unify livestock data systems, strengthen sector accountability

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry through a unified national data architecture that will enhance accountability, strengthen planning, and unlock new investment opportunities across the sector.

The assurance was given by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, at two-day multi-stakeholder workshop on strengthening national livestock sector accountability and alignment in Abuja.

The minister said: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot change it, ” stressing that Nigeria still does not have reliable figures for its national herd, livestock slaughter rates, number and distribution of certified inseminators, or the performance of small, medium, and large producers.

Mukhtar noted that without unified information, government cannot design bankable projects, attract credible investors, or effectively tackle recurring challenges such as disease outbreaks and low productivity.

The minister also revealed that the Ministry is developing a comprehensive Livestock Public Digital Infrastructure, scheduled for launch early next year, to serve as the backbone of the new Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.

“This system is essential for delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and achieving national priorities in food security, job creation, revenue growth, and a stable production environment,” he said.

Mukhtar underscored the importance of the forthcoming National Livestock Census, stating that the ministry would engage development partners using the proven model of the National Polio Strategy to ensure accuracy and nationwide coverage.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, noted that Nigeria currently hosts vast datasets generated from systems such as the National Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NLITS), the National Animal Disease Information System (NADIS), as well as multiple federal and state-level databases.

However, she expressed concern that these datasets “sit in silos,” resulting in fragmented policy outcomes, weak investor confidence, and an inability to accurately plan for national livestock growth.

Presenting the technical structure of the new platform, Head Programmer and Delivery Lead at De Olimage Company Limited, Josephine Okeke, explained that the unified M&E system consolidates more than 400 indicators from the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the Ministerial Performance Board.

These indicators have been streamlined into eight sectoral goals, providing a clear and measurable framework for tracking progress. The baseline established through the workshop will support performance tracking from 2025 to 2035, as Nigeria works toward achieving a projected $74 billion GDP contribution from the livestock industry.

Okeke added that the new system shifts government reporting “from activities to actual outcomes,” noting that many institutions have historically celebrated activities without demonstrating measurable impact.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders to refine baseline methodologies, validate indicators, assign roles, and establish a coordinated reporting structure for the sector.