KOGI MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT ADOPTS, LAUNCHES NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM TO BOOST LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT

By Salawu Nneka Patience

The Kogi State Ministry of Livestock Development has organized a sensitization workshop and officially launched the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) a nationwide initiative designed to enhance livestock management, monitoring, and productivity.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Femi Bolarin, said the launch reflects Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the livestock sector a critical pillar of food security, job creation, and rural economic growth.

Dr. Bolarin described the establishment of the Kogi State Ministry of Livestock Development as “a step in the right direction,” reaffirming government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure effective livestock registration and management across the state.

He further assured that Governor Ododo’s ongoing reforms to modernize livestock production will yield lasting benefits for farmers, herders, and the broader agricultural economy.

According to him, “The NAITS initiative is designed to ensure effective identification, registration, and traceability of all livestock nationwide. This technology will enhance productivity, enable data-driven planning, and curb persistent challenges such as cattle rustling, livestock theft, and transboundary animal diseases that have long hindered the growth of the livestock sub-sector.”

Dr. Bolarin emphasized that livestock farming remains vital to rural livelihoods and food security in Kogi State. He noted that the introduction of NAITS would enable authorities to track animal movement, monitor health conditions, and foster trade transparency ,thereby building confidence among farmers, herders, and consumers.

He commended the visionary leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his sustained support toward livestock transformation and appreciated the collaboration of the Kogi L-PRES Coordinating Office, development partners, and field officers in driving the initiative.

The Commissioner explained that the sensitization workshop was organized to raise awareness and deepen stakeholders’ understanding of modern livestock production and management practices.

Representing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mr. Abdulkareem Durosinolorun noted that NAITS forms part of the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan, implemented in collaboration with Megacorp Nigeria Limited. He lauded the Kogi State Government for its proactive adoption of the initiative to boost productivity and ensure traceability.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Timothy Ojomah, reiterated that Governor Ododo’s administration remains firmly committed to prioritizing all aspects of agricultural development in the state.

Also speaking, the Kogi State Project Coordinator for the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir, described the launch of NAITS as “a major milestone in efforts to modernize and secure livestock production across Nigeria.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Mr. Isah Anate Jimoh, assured that his department is fully committed to ensuring the smooth implementation and sustainability of the programme across all 21 local government areas of the state.

“We will continue to work closely with livestock associations, community leaders, and security agencies to ensure that every livestock owner participates in the registration and tagging process,” he added.