The federal government on Wednesday in Abuja said it would create a framework to standardise animal transportation systems across the country.

The Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, made the declaration during his Keynote address at a two-day national conference titled “Developing a Policy Framework for Transportation of Livestock in Nigeria.”

Mr Alkali, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Adeleye Adeoye, said the transportation of livestock, whether by road, rail, ship, boat, or air, required urgent attention and standardisation.

“As a nation with a population of over 200 million people, we cannot continue with the status quo. We need a safe, efficient, hygienic, sustainable, and humane animal transportation system that aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the federal government,” said Mr Alkali.

According to him, the transportation of livestock is a crucial component of Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, connecting livestock producers in rural areas to consumer markets in the cities and beyond.

He, however, said the current state of livestock transportation in Nigeria presented significant challenges, from inadequate infrastructure to animal safety and welfare concerns to logistical inefficiencies that drove up costs for producers and consumers.

“As the Minister of Transportation, I recognise that addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach.

“That is why I am so encouraged to see the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) convening this conference, bringing together policymakers, regulators, transport operators, livestock producers, and other key stakeholders to chart the path forward,” he said.

According to him, the transportation of livestock is a logistical challenge and a critical enabler for the growth and development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“By working together to address the gaps in our livestock transportation systems, we can unlock new opportunities for our farmers and ranchers.

“By ensuring the availability of affordable and nutritious food for our citizens and contributing to the broader economic prosperity of our nation.

“I assure you that the recommendations from this conference will receive the full attention of the ministry. We are also prepared to work with other relevant Ministries and Agencies to implement practical and effective solutions, ” he said.

He said the decisions will impact the transportation sector, food security and national economic development.

In his welcome address, NITT director-general Bayero Farah suggested loading and unloading of livestock and overcrowding in confined spaces to be considered as paper presenters and discussants postulated the policy framework for safe livestock transportation in Nigeria.

Other factors he further suggested are extremes of temperature and humidity and acceleration and deceleration during transit, among others, to be well considered.

(NAN)