Reactions to the Proposed Database for Livestock in Nigeria
Nigeria is a major producer of Livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa with its cattle population estimated at about 20 million. Analysts have stated that the Livestock sector in Nigeria despite its great potential is one of the most inefficient food-production systems in Africa with less focus on new technologies and other factors that can drive the transformation of the sector.
With this in mind, new ways of reviving the sector have been explored and most recently, a National Livestock Database Agency was proposed by the senate.
On April the 20th, 2021, The Nigerian Internet space went into a mini-uproar after a bill seeking to create a database for Livestock passed its second reading.
The bill which is sponsored by Senator Bima Emagi (representing Niger South) is an Act to establish livestock management (protection, control, and management, etc) with a major aim of solving the challenges of animal identification and management.
With this bill in place, a National Livestock Bureau will be set up with the purpose of livestock identification, traceability, registration, cattle rustling control, and livestock disease control.
Objectives of the Livestock Database
The livestock database will create a means of identifying, indicating ownership, and preventing rustling. According to the bill, the database will cover information on animals’ origins (birthplace, parentage, sex, breed, genetics) as well as the ability to trace an animal product back through the marketing chain to its source.
Nigerian lawmakers are considering creating a national livestock database for animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs
Another factor that influenced the bill was the increased spread of diseases and their threat to human health; with the creation of the livestock database, animals identity and health records can be traced and this is said to in turn increase consumer confidence in animal products and also safeguard the lives of citizens through prevention and quick response to disease outbreaks.
Reactions to the Proposed Bill
Many Nigerians have come out to condemn the bill and stated that it was a misplaced priority for such a bill to be in the works when other pressing issues like hunger, poverty, insecurity, and agitations across ethnic groups needed to be addressed.
Reacting to the development, Lagos-based Lawyer, Tony Odiadi, described the bill as petty and ridiculous with no high-impact legislation.
He stated: “First, this is a matter suitable for local government administrators, who deal with abattoirs, by extension matters relating to livestock and the rest.
“Second, in terms of national priority, a database for cattle, goats, sheep, and livestock is a monumental waste of bureaucratic energy that ought to be deployed to facilitate ranching and keeping animals in proper pens, not merely counting migrating or ubiquitous livestock.
“Third, this is purely a private enterprise. It is like the government desiring to count the cars in all the private car shops in Nigeria. After counting the cars in the shops, as a national assignment or enterprise, how will the information aid local economic development?
“Lastly, at a time Nigeria is faced with cases of insurgency, banditry, separatist impulses, herdsmen-farmers clashes and so on, the National Assembly is burdened with preparing a law to maintain an inventory of livestock in the country? Who is to use the data? How will such data help planning, and planning for what?
“This is the sort of law that runs counter to serious development issues. The Bill serves no strategic purpose to our national needs at this time.”
On the part of the senate, the senate president, Ahmed Lawan supported the bill by stating that the Livestock sector in the country is worth between 5–10 trillion naira and that the government is trying to protect and promote the sector to ensure that people earn a living from Livestock while also preserving a food reserve for the country.
Livestock Database in Africa
Livestock database is not a new concept to the World and even on the African continent. In Botswana, they have an over $5 billion livestock industry that is export-driven and thus have an agency that tracks and keeps a database for livestock.
Over the past five years, livestock contribution to its economy amounted to $2.9 million (Trade Map, 2020)
Botswana has established itself as a leader in the fields of livestock identification and traceability with a simple yet effective system that can sync up the National Database with its massive cattle population, any farmer that wishes to sell to the Botswana Meat Commission must register their cows and acquire special ear tags from the Department of Veterinary Services.
The ear tag contains a chip that tells the bovine’s story: where it was purchased, who its current and previous owners are, as well as its complete vaccination record. Even the color of its hide and the shape of its ears are recorded to prevent identity fraud.
When inspectors from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security visit a ranch, they carry along a handheld scanner, the scanner is linked to the National Database through the internet so, in this way, government workers only need to scan the cow’s ear tag to ensure compliance with international guidelines.
Other countries in Africa that have an active livestock database are South Africa, Rwanda, and most recently, Uganda.
Conclusion
Much of the uproar that has risen up has not in fact stated that a Livestock Database was completely useless but that in fact, it was not a top-tier priority for the country presently. While we wait to see if the Livestock Database Bill passes its third hearing it is important to note that while the majority are against the bill, some have stated that it will be a great way to revive the veterinary services in the country and create employment for young people.