The Federal Government is set to introduce digital registration for cattle and other livestock as part of a broader strategy to tackle the persistent menace of cattle rustling across the country.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed the plan on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the activities of his ministry and progress in implementing the National Ranching Policy at the State House in Abuja.
Maiha said the proposed digital registration system would create a reliable database for livestock identification and ownership, making it easier for authorities to track animals and detect stolen livestock.
The initiative is expected to strengthen security within the livestock sector while providing government with accurate data needed for effective planning, monitoring and enforcement.
The move comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry through ranching and other modern approaches aimed at improving productivity, security and traceability.
The digital registration programme is expected to become a critical tool in the government’s campaign to dismantle the networks responsible for cattle rustling and make the movement and ownership of livestock more transparent.
The Federal Government is also pushing the National Ranching Policy as a key component of its broader livestock reform agenda, with the objective of modernising the sector and addressing longstanding security and economic challenges.
This is a much-needed step in the right direction. Cattle rustling has caused so much loss and insecurity over the years, so having a proper digital database for livestock identification and ownership could really help authorities track stolen animals more effectively. It’s also encouraging to see this tied into the broader National Ranching Policy, hopefully it brings more transparency and security to the sector overall. Kudos to the Ministry of Livestock Development for pushing this initiative forward.