The Federal Government is planning a nationwide digital livestock ecosystem after seeing early progress with Kano State’s digital livestock programme. The initiative is expected to improve animal tracking, disease control, livestock trade, and data collection across Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The plan was announced by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during a working visit to Kano State. He praised the state’s Livestock Information Management System (LIMS), describing it as a model that could be expanded across the country to modernise livestock management.
According to the minister, a digital livestock ecosystem will help government agencies, farmers, veterinarians, and livestock traders access reliable information about animals, their movement, and their health. The system is also expected to strengthen disease surveillance and improve planning for the livestock industry.
The Federal Government believes technology will play a major role in transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector. Officials say digital tools can improve traceability, support better animal healthcare, increase productivity, and make it easier to attract local and foreign investment into the industry.
During the visit, the minister also inspected several livestock facilities in Kano, including the Gwale Model Veterinary Hospital, the Kano Livestock Information Management System, leather processing facilities, dairy centres, and livestock genetics projects. He said these investments show how technology and innovation can improve the entire livestock value chain.
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The digital initiative forms part of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development’s wider plan to modernise livestock production. The ministry is also working on improving dairy production, expanding livestock markets, supporting leather manufacturing, and strengthening animal breeding through modern genetics programmes.
If successfully implemented nationwide, the digital ecosystem could make livestock management more efficient while helping Nigeria improve food security and grow its agricultural economy. It could also provide policymakers with better data to support future investments and reforms in the sector.
The proposed digital livestock ecosystem marks another step in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise agriculture through technology. While the project is still in its early stages, the Federal Government hopes Kano’s experience will provide a strong foundation for building a smarter, more connected livestock industry across the country.
