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.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance at the two-day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Strengthening National Livestock Sector Accountability and Alignment, which commenced in Abuja on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

According to him, “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.

A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu, said 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 also 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. (The Sun)