FG Moves to Overhaul Livestock Data Systems, Boost Sector Accountability

Nigeria’s livestock industry is on the verge of a major transformation as the Federal Government pushes forward with plans to unify national livestock data and strengthen accountability across the sector. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, reaffirmed the government’s commitment during a two-day workshop in Abuja, describing accurate data as the foundation for meaningful reform and sustainable growth.

Source: .dreamstime.com

Maiha told participants that the country cannot change what it cannot measure, stressing that Nigeria still lacks dependable figures for its national herd, slaughter statistics, inseminator distribution and the performance of producers across the value chain. He warned that without a single, credible information source, government cannot design viable projects, attract serious investors or effectively address persistent challenges such as frequent disease outbreaks and low productivity.

The minister announced that a new Livestock Public Digital Infrastructure is being developed as the backbone of the sector’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, with a formal launch expected early next year. He described the system as essential to delivering President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in food security, job creation, revenue expansion and building a stable production environment.

A nationwide livestock census is also on the way, and Maiha revealed that development partners will be engaged using the proven National Polio Strategy to guarantee accuracy and full coverage. The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, highlighted that Nigeria already holds a wealth of livestock data from systems such as NLITS and NADIS, but warned that these resources remain trapped in isolated databases that weaken policy outcomes and deter investors.

Head Programmer and Delivery Lead at De Olimage Company Limited, Josephine Okeke, presented the technical design of the new M&E platform, explaining that it harmonises more than 400 indicators from the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy and the Ministerial Performance Board. Those indicators have now been streamlined into eight sector-wide goals, creating a clear structure for tracking progress as the country works toward a projected $74 billion livestock economy by 2035.

Okeke emphasised that the system marks a shift from reporting activities to demonstrating real outcomes, noting that many institutions have historically celebrated processes without proving impact. The workshop concluded with stakeholders aligning methodologies, validating indicators and defining roles to ensure coordinated reporting as Nigeria builds a more transparent and investment-ready livestock sector.