the Federal Government on Wednesday, November 16, officially launched the National Animal Identification System and Traceability System, NAITS.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, who had launched the system at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, had remarked that it would help address the menace of cattle rustling, proper identification of cattle and non-ruminants, easy traceability, provision of credit, insurance, and others with the use of modern technology.
While addressing newsmen after launch event, Abubakar had told stakeholders drawn from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, cattle breeders, traditional rulers, animal husbandry experts, scientists, ECOWAS, the United Nations, UN, pastoralists, and several others, that the import of the technology, which is a first in the sector, were enormous and would help to change the narrative in livestock business, while significantly reducing the inherent challenges that have plagued the subsector over the years.
According to Abubakar, the NAITS was part of the National Livestock Transformation Plan and will be implemented in all 36 States of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. He had also added that stakeholder engagements and sensitization on NAITS had already begun in Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and FCT.
Emphasis was also made on the NAITS addressing issues affecting the livestock subsector, and also promoting increased cohesion and harmony among communities.
