The Edo State Government has said the growing arrival of undocumented herders has created new concerns for security agencies and planners, prompting renewed efforts to establish a clearer system for managing livestock activities across the state.
The Commissioner for Livestock, Prof Ikponmwosa Omorodion, made this known while receiving the leadership of the National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria from the Edo chapter.
He explained that the continuous movement of unregistered herders into various communities has made it difficult for the government to track cattle operations or maintain effective oversight of the sector.
According to him, the ministry was created to improve the organisation of livestock business and to enhance job creation, economic growth and public safety. He noted that cattle trading remains a major part of the state economy, yet the authorities still lack complete information on the exact locations of many herds.
He warned that the inability to account for these animals is one of the root causes of recurring tension between herders and crop farmers.
Prof Omorodion stated that the ongoing profiling of herders is not a revenue plan. He said it is meant to provide reliable data that can protect both herders and farmers, assist with security coordination and strengthen the entire livestock value chain.
He urged the association to ensure that all its members are properly registered so that the state and industry groups can work with a unified system for monitoring cattle movement.
Earlier, the association chairman, Yusuf Ibrahim Imokha, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the commissioner. He said the group wants to deepen its partnership with the ministry in order to reduce community level disputes and improve the organisation of the cattle business.
He described the livestock sector as essential to peace, stability and economic development.
Imokha affirmed that the association is prepared to support the state in every effort aimed at improving safety within cattle markets and grazing areas.
He added that the group is committed to cooperating with officials on any initiative that promotes orderliness and reduces crises within the livestock ecosystem.
Prof Omorodion insisted that proper records are necessary if any association claims responsibility for its members. He questioned how groups can monitor individuals who operate deep inside forest areas without any form of documentation. He called for a collective framework that will enable both the state and private stakeholders to manage livestock activities in a more structured way.
The association pledged full cooperation with government reforms and promised to engage its members to ensure compliance with the documentation process.
