Expert decries Nigeria’s inability to tap into livestock export market

ProteinTrail Technology, a government solution focused on sanitising Nigeria’s meat value chain has decried the nation’s inability to tap into the livestock export market.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Muritala Alade-Bamgbala, noted this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the country’s inability to tap into the livestock market was due to absence of a robust system to track and monitor livestock movement and health status.

Alade-Bamgbala emphasised the need to leverage technology to reduce the risk of transferring zoonotic diseases from animals to humans.

He said technology could be used to track and monitor the entire history of livestock through digitisation to ensure a safer food system.

Alade-Bamgbala reiterated the need for digitisation in the livestock industry.

According to him, digital solutions will provide established institutions with access to the history of the livestock they wish to purchase.

“The livestock sector is crucial to Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that the livestock sub-sector contributes about one-third of the 21 per cent of the GDP.

“However, the sector’s potential has not been fully maximised due to various challenges.The sector’s growth is hindered by a lack of transparency and traceability.

According to him, Nigeria’s livestock sector is facing numerous challenges, including inadequate meat inspection, which poses serious risks to public health and safety.

Alade-Bamgbala warned that inadequate meat inspection posed a significant risk of transferring zoonotic diseases from animals to humans.

He noted that this could occur when a diseased animal passes undetected during antemortem or postmortem examinations or when the carcass was not properly inspected, ultimately allowing diseased meat to reach consumers.

The ProteinTrail boss explained that leveraging technology to trace the history of animals from birth to slaughter would help avert such issues.

Quoting research, he said several studies had also shown that heavy metals have found their way into the food chain in various parts of Africa, including Nigeria.

The chief executive officer noted that these metals had been found in higher doses than recommended, posing serious health risks to consumers.

He noted that the concept of meat inspection was not new, as it originated in the United States in 1906, with the passage of the Meat Inspection Act, adding that the Act required health certificates from state veterinarians for all meat sold to the public.

Alade-Bamgbala, however, noted that in Nigeria, livestock certification was traditionally done in hard copy, leaving room for counterfeit certificates.

He cited examples of Western countries where technology had been successfully leveraged to track livestock history and ensure food safety.

“For instance, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in the United States uses a digital system to track livestock movement and health status.

Speaking on the company, he said their major goal was to track and monitor the entire history of livestock through digitisation.

He noted that digitisation would prevent counterfeit health certificates and promote transparency.

“ProteinTrail Technology has digitised the meat inspection act, which requires state veterinarians to issue health certificates for cattle slaughtered in government-approved abattoirs.

“The technology promotes transparency and accountability in the industry, reducing the risk of disease outbreaks,” Alade-Bamgbala said.

Additionally, he emphasised the need for laboratories to test and monitor meat to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

He noted that the government had a critical role to play in implementing meat inspection legislation and monitoring livestock activities.

“The digitisation of livestock records will also favour consumers, as it will enable them to make informed decisions about the meat they purchase.

“With digital records, consumers can access information about the origin, health status, and movement history of livestock, ensuring that they consume safe and healthy meat products.

“In addition, the digitisation of livestock records is expected to encourage ranching nationwide.
“With the use of QR-coded ear tags, livestock farmers can access information about their animals’ health status, vaccination history, and movement records.

“This will enable them to make informed decisions about their livestock, improving their overall productivity and efficiency,” he said.

According to him, the implementation of ProteinTrail Technology is expected to reduce cattle rustling and farmer-herder clashes by providing a secure and transparent record of livestock ownership and movement.

He noted that the technology would also improve the overall efficiency of the livestock, enabling Nigeria to compete globally.

Alade-Bamgbala added that ProteinTrail Technology was partnering with several states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to implement the technology nationwide.

He added that the Oyo State government was pioneering the initiative to transform the livestock industry in Nigeria.

He also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry into a global powerhouse.

Alade-Bamgbala explained that his administration had already taken significant steps towards achieving the goal, including the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development.

“Tinubu’s vision is to revolutionise the livestock sector, making it a significant contributor to Nigeria’s economy and a leading player in the global market, “he said.