Niger State Government, Niger Foods, Bago Ruga Ruga Association Intensify Livestock Development Through LIIMS Sensitization
By Rashidat AbdulRahman
Information Officer
The Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, the Bago Ruga Ruga Association, and Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited have stepped up efforts to improve livestock development in the state through a sensitization program on the Livestock Identification, Inspection, and Management System (LIIMS).
The campaign, held on Saturday at the Niger Foods Headquarters in Minna, gathered cattle breeders, pastoralists, veterinary professionals, livestock traders, and government officials to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the digital livestock management initiative and the cattle finishing (feedlot system).
During the event, Niger Foods Executive Director Mr. Ola Oloyede described LIIMS as a key digital platform meant to transform livestock management through effective animal identification, registration, and traceability. He elaborated that the system would improve disease surveillance, reduce cattle rustling, facilitate livestock movement, support data-driven planning, and enable better management across the livestock value chain.
Mr. Oloyede added that livestock managed under LIIMS aligns with Niger State’s agricultural transformation agenda, particularly the vision of the Farmer-Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, to establish a modern livestock economy capable of supporting red meat processing and export through the Minna Airport Special Agro-Processing and Free Trade Zone. He reaffirmed Niger Foods’ dedication to collaborating with government agencies, pastoralists, livestock owners, and development partners to modernize livestock production, strengthen food security, create jobs, and promote sustainable economic growth.
In separate remarks, the Commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Abdullahi Mammagi, the Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Umar Ahmad Raba, and the Coordinator of the Bago Ruga Ruga Association, Alhaji Hassan Shiroro, praised Niger Foods for launching the LIIMS initiative. They described the program as a timely intervention that would enhance livestock management, improve compliance within the livestock marketing system, bolster security through accurate animal identification and traceability, protect pastoralists’ livelihoods, and expand economic opportunities across the livestock sector.
