AfriPulse
By Stella Odueme
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commenced the second phase of its national capacity-building programme for Quality Assurance Assessors, aimed at improving livestock standards, strengthening food safety, and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s livestock value chains in local and international markets.
The two-day training, taking place in Kaduna State, brings together participants from the North-West geopolitical zone, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Zamfara states.
The exercise follows the successful first phase held from May 6 to 8, 2026, in Yola, Adamawa State, where assessors from the North-East received training on quality assurance systems, food safety compliance, traceability mechanisms, and regulatory standards, the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Henrietta Okokon, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Director of Quality Assurance and Certification in the ministry, Dr. Nurallah Abubakar, described quality assurance as critical to building confidence in Nigeria’s livestock products, particularly in an increasingly competitive global market.
He said the programme was designed to equip assessors with the technical knowledge, practical skills, and standardised tools needed to conduct objective, consistent, and evidence-based assessments across the livestock value chain.
According to him, quality assurance assessors play a vital role in ensuring regulatory compliance while driving continuous improvement among producers and processors, thereby boosting consumer confidence, expanding market access, and improving productivity.
Abubakar urged participants to uphold professionalism, integrity, impartiality, and confidentiality, stressing that these principles are essential to maintaining a credible national quality assurance system.
Also speaking, the Director of Veterinary and Livestock Services, Kaduna State, Dr. Pakachi Zakariya, described the initiative as timely, noting that it would help address persistent challenges in quality control, food safety, and regulatory compliance within the livestock sector.
He expressed concern over unhygienic processing and transportation of livestock and dairy products in some parts of the country, saying stronger quality assurance systems are necessary to protect public health and improve consumer confidence.
Zakariya added that ongoing reforms in the livestock sector would only achieve lasting success with a robust regulatory and quality assurance framework capable of supporting productivity, food safety, and greater market access.
A representative of the Kaduna State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, Dr. Sani Bello, also highlighted the importance of quality assurance in reducing post-production losses, improving productivity, and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian livestock products in regional and international markets.
Source: Authorityngr.com | Read the Full Story…
