FMLD Moves to Centralise Nigeria's Livestock Data

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has commenced the validation of the National Livestock Information Management System (NLIMS), a digital platform designed to strengthen data-driven decision-making, improve sector coordination and support the sustainable transformation of Nigeria's livestock industry.

Speaking at the validation session in Abuja on Thursday, 18th June, 2026, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, described the initiative as a major milestone in the Ministry's efforts to build a modern, productive and globally competitive livestock sector.

Represented at the event by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Stephen Ohaeri, the Permanent Secretary noted that one of the Ministry's key priorities since its establishment has been creating the institutional framework required to transform the livestock sector into a catalyst for food security, employment generation and economic growth.

She observed that critical livestock information relating to animal populations, production systems, markets, animal health, value chains and sector performance remains fragmented across multiple sources, making effective planning, coordination and monitoring difficult.

According to her, the National Livestock Information Management System was conceived to address these challenges by providing a centralised and integrated platform for livestock data collection, management, analysis and reporting.

"The NLIMS is a strategic institutional tool that will support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen programme monitoring, enhance sector oversight and provide the reliable data required to guide investment decisions and measure impact across the livestock ecosystem," she stated.

Dr. Akujobi explained that the validation exercise was aimed at reviewing the proposed architecture and prototype of the platform to ensure that it meets the Ministry's operational requirements and is capable of supporting the long-term management of livestock information nationwide.

She urged participants drawn from various departments and stakeholder groups to actively contribute to the validation process through constructive feedback that would strengthen the system before deployment.

During a technical presentation, developers of the platform highlighted key features of the system, including mobile and web-based data collection, integration with existing Ministry databases, automated data exchange with partner institutions, multi-layer validation mechanisms and centralised data warehousing.

The system is designed to aggregate information from diverse sources, including field officers, state coordinators, Ministry departments, livestock associations, development partners and other relevant institutions, thereby creating a single source of truth for livestock data in Nigeria.

The platform also incorporates modules covering livestock population and production, markets and trade intelligence, infrastructure and services, institutional actors, planning and reporting, conflict management and integrated animal identification and traceability systems.

According to the developers, the NLIMS will provide real-time access to critical information required for policy formulation, programme implementation, resource allocation, investment planning and performance monitoring across the livestock value chain.

The validation exercise also featured a live demonstration of the prototype, showcasing how data can be collected, validated, approved and transformed into actionable intelligence through interactive dashboards and reporting tools.

Participants expressed optimism that the successful deployment of the system would significantly improve data governance, strengthen institutional coordination and enhance the Ministry's capacity to deliver on its mandate of developing a resilient, productive and sustainable livestock sector.

Henrietta Okokon
Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations
19th June, 2026