---
title: "Nigeria and UNIDO in talks over digital livestock traceability system"
summary: "Nigeria's Ministry of Livestock Development is in discussions with UNIDO on technical cooperation to establish a digital livestock identification and traceability system, with potential applications in animal health monitoring, product certification, export market access and combating livestock theft."
url: "https://feedsoft.ai/articles/nigeria-and-unido-in-talks-over-digital-livestock-traceability-system-283b091f"
publisher: "The Feed Report"
section: "Feed Safety"
author: "The Feed Desk"
datePublished: "2026-10-04T02:02:18.897Z"
dateModified: "2026-10-04T02:02:18.897Z"
sources:
  - title: "Nigeria, UNIDO discuss digital livestock traceability | Feed Business Middle East & Africa - No.1 Publication for Animal Nutrition, Animal Health & Livestock Industry"
    url: "https://www.feedbusinessmea.com/2026/10/03/nigeria-unido-discuss-digital-livestock-traceability/"
---

# Nigeria and UNIDO in talks over digital livestock traceability system

*Nigeria's Ministry of Livestock Development is in discussions with UNIDO on technical cooperation to establish a digital livestock identification and traceability system, with potential applications in animal health monitoring, product certification, export market access and combating livestock theft.*

Nigeria is in discussions with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to develop a digital livestock identification and traceability system, the country's Ministry of Livestock Development announced on 29 September 2026.

According to Feed Business Middle East & Africa, the talks centre on using identification tags and microchips linked to digital databases to track animals, with potential applications spanning animal health monitoring, product certification and access to export markets.

Adalberto Carvalho Santos Vieira, UNIDO regional programme manager, said linking animal identification systems to databases could strengthen animal health, build consumer confidence and facilitate access to export markets.

## Ethiopia as a reference model

UNIDO has pointed to its existing Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) in Ethiopia as a model for the proposed Nigerian programme. That project was launched in 2021 in partnership with China and Ethiopian authorities, and uses ear tags linked to mobile technology. Scanning an animal's identifier provides information including its birth date, vaccination history and health records, allowing livestock to be registered, tracked and verified throughout their life cycle.

UNIDO said the Ethiopian system is being implemented across 21 districts and 200 communities and is expected to benefit more than 100,000 pastoralists. The project also includes laboratory upgrades and training; more than 1,132 people have been trained since 2021 in areas including meat inspection, laboratory analysis, slaughterhouse management and digital livestock systems. Diagnostic technologies are also being introduced to detect veterinary drug residues and support food safety compliance.

Nigeria is seeking support in several comparable areas, including livestock identification and traceability, laboratory capacity, inspector training and certification processes for livestock products.

## Regional context: livestock theft

The discussions come against the backdrop of widespread livestock theft across West Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that cattle rustling costs the region more than US$467 million annually.

In February 2026, FAO and the Senegalese government convened representatives from West African countries in Dakar to develop a regional response to the problem. Participants adopted a 2026–2030 regional programme valued at more than US$345 million and endorsed the establishment of the Subregional Coalition against Cattle Rustling in West Africa and the Sahel. That initiative includes livestock traceability, cross-border coordination of legal and security responses, and greater involvement of pastoral communities and livestock organisations in prevention and early-warning systems.

The source notes that a Nigerian digital identification system could therefore serve multiple purposes: strengthening health controls, supporting livestock product certification and export readiness, as well as helping to track animals and combat theft.

## Sources

- [Nigeria, UNIDO discuss digital livestock traceability | Feed Business Middle East & Africa - No.1 Publication for Animal Nutrition, Animal Health & Livestock Industry](https://www.feedbusinessmea.com/2026/10/03/nigeria-unido-discuss-digital-livestock-traceability/)

*Cite as: The Feed Report, "Nigeria and UNIDO in talks over digital livestock traceability system", https://feedsoft.ai/articles/nigeria-and-unido-in-talks-over-digital-livestock-traceability-system-283b091f (as of 2026-10-04).*