The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar-Maiha, has called on livestock traders and handlers to embrace modern practices, including proper animal identification, to curb livestock theft and enhance the sector.

Mr Mukhtar-Maiha made the call on Saturday in Minna during the inspection and inauguration of the ultra-modern livestock market.

The market was developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project.

The minister is in the state for a two-day working visit to assess L-PRES projects.

He said every four-legged animal would be tagged with an ear identification device and registered in a computerised database containing the owner’s details.

He explained that the system would also record ownership transfers whenever an animal was sold, making it possible to trace the animal and establish its ownership history.

He also said animals without the compulsory identification tags would not be allowed to travel, access modern abattoirs or be sold in designated markets.

The minister said the federal government was committed to transforming livestock production into a sustainable and profitable business, noting that modern processing facilities would create huge demand for cattle, sheep and goats.

He further directed that the livestock market should be equipped with adequate water supply, feeding facilities, proper drainage and sanitation, stressing that animal welfare is central to modern livestock management.

Mr Mukhtar-Maiha said the ministry would also work with relevant stakeholders to establish modern stalls and shops where young people could engage in livestock rearing and fattening.

He added that the development would create employment opportunities.

Speaking at the event, the chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Mustapha Jibrin-Alheri, expressed satisfaction with the project, describing it as a major boost for livestock traders in the area.

Mr Jibrin-Alheri, who was represented by his chief protocol officer, Muhammed Ibrahim, raised concerns about the health risks associated with human-animal interaction and therefore lauded the L-PRES intervention.

He disclosed that the council monitored the project to ensure its timely completion, adding that the modern facility would provide livestock handlers with a safer and more conducive environment for their business.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umaru Bago for the facility, while appealing for additional shelters, rooms for traders and small slaughtering facilities to support the growing livestock business.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Turaku Sheep and Goats Traders Union, Muhammad Hadi-Garkuwa, described the market as a major breakthrough for livestock traders and a potential source of employment for youths.

He said people could earn a living from various activities within the market, including animal skinning, washing, and the sale of ropes and other livestock-related materials.

He said traders already had measures in place to verify ownership before animals were offered for sale and welcomed the proposed digital identification system as an added safeguard against livestock theft. 

(NAN)