Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has raised the alarm over the growing infiltration of cattle rustlers into the state, attributing the worsening trend to peace deals struck by some neighbouring states with criminal elements.
He warned that these negotiations have inadvertently emboldened bandits and escalated livestock theft.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting held in Minna, the state capital, Governor Bago emphasized the urgent need to implement the newly introduced Trade Animal Movement Security and Veterinary Inspection Permit.
The forum brought together security agencies, veterinary professionals, livestock stakeholders, and traditional leaders to discuss effective strategies to curb the menace of animal theft and ensure meat safety in the state.
According to the governor, large numbers of stolen livestock are being transported from Niger to adjoining states, fueling the illegal cattle trade. He condemned the complicity of peace negotiations that allow bandits to regroup and resume criminal activity, particularly cattle rustling.
In response, the governor declared that only meat from approved and regulated abattoirs will henceforth be allowed in markets across Niger State. He expressed strong disapproval of the sale of bush-slaughtered meat, warning that such practices threaten public health and the integrity of the meat supply chain.
Governor Bago also mandated that all livestock entering the state must be vaccinated, stressing that consumer health and animal safety are top priorities for his administration.
“This policy is not aimed at frustrating livestock traders,” he clarified, “but rather at safeguarding our trade corridors, monitoring the health of animals, and enforcing veterinary standards throughout farms, markets, and borders.”
Highlighting the legal framework backing the new initiative, the governor cited Sections 18 and 19 of the Animal Disease Control Act of 2022, which empower states to regulate animal movements through permits issued by the Department of Animal Health and Veterinary Services.
Further outlining the state’s efforts to enhance livestock management, Governor Bago revealed that over 120,000 hectares of land have been earmarked for grazing reserves. He disclosed ongoing collaboration with the federal ministries of agriculture and livestock, alongside development partners, to introduce improved pasture grass species and provide essential infrastructure in the reserves.
He issued a stern warning to both farmers and herders, declaring that farming along highway rights of way is strictly prohibited. Likewise, he cautioned herders against allowing their animals to graze on cultivated farmlands, stressing that anyone found guilty of violating these directives would face the full weight of the law.
The Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Umar Sanda Rabe, lamented the continued practice of slaughtering animals without prior veterinary inspection, warning that such negligence could lead to serious outbreaks of zoonotic diseases that endanger public health and undermine market confidence.
Adding his voice, the President of the National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors, and Marketers of Nigeria, Alhaji Ilyasu Bulama, acknowledged the severe toll cattle rustling has taken on their members’ businesses.
However, he expressed hope that the implementation of the movement permit system would significantly reduce theft and restore order to the livestock trade. Bulama noted that the association had already engaged traditional institutions and security agencies on the matter and is committed to supporting the government’s efforts.
In a similar vein, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Niger State, Umar Abubakar Lapai, hailed the veterinary inspection initiative as a significant step toward ensuring healthy meat consumption.
He added that the establishment of designated cattle ranches would be instrumental in reducing the long-standing conflict between herders and farmers, which has often led to violence and economic loss.