The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commenced discussions with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on potential areas of technical collaboration to strengthen livestock identification and traceability, food safety and laboratory capacity in Nigeria.
The engagement between officials of the Ministry and UNIDO also focused on certification and measures to prepare Nigeria’s livestock sector for increased participation in international trade.
Speaking during the engagement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said animal identification and traceability would be critical to the growth and development of Nigeria’s livestock sector, particularly as the country seeks to expand production and exports.
Dr. Akujobi stressed that an effective traceability system would enable Nigeria to track livestock and livestock products throughout the value chain, noting that such systems are important for gaining the confidence of international trading partners.
She, however, emphasised that food safety measures should not focus solely on exports but should also protect Nigerian consumers and improve the quality of products available in the domestic market.
The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry was working towards establishing a clear policy framework for animal identification and traceability and expressed readiness to receive UNIDO’s technical support in areas such as infrastructure, software and capacity building.
She also sought UNIDO’s expertise on practical identification technologies, including tags and microchips, while stressing the need to consider affordability, available equipment and long-term sustainability for farmers.
The Ministry identified the establishment of disease-free zones or compartments, training of federal and state veterinary inspectors, improved biosecurity and upgraded laboratory facilities as key areas requiring attention as Nigeria pursues its livestock export ambitions.
Presenting UNIDO’s potential areas of support, the organisation’s Regional Programme Manager, Adalberto Carvalho Santos Vieira, said UNIDO could assist Nigeria in deploying digital technologies for livestock identification and traceability.
He explained that linking animal identification systems to databases could strengthen animal health management, improve consumer confidence and facilitate access to international markets.
The UNIDO representative also said the organisation could support testing and food safety systems, laboratory capacity, inspector training and certification processes, while helping Nigeria assess existing capacities and identify priority gaps.
The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to export livestock-related products, including honey and red meat by ensuring that products can be properly traced, tested and certified in line with applicable international requirements.
