The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has commenced the second phase of its national capacity-building programme for Quality Assurance Assessors, aimed at strengthening livestock standards, improving food safety and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s livestock value chains in local and international markets.
The two-day training, held in Kaduna State, brought together participants from the North-West geopolitical zone, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara states.
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The programme follows the successful first phase held in Yola in May 2026 for participants from the North-East, where stakeholders received training on quality assurance systems, food safety compliance, traceability mechanisms and regulatory standards in the livestock sector.
Declaring the workshop open, the Director of Quality Assurance and Certification at the Ministry, Nurallah Abubakar, described quality assurance as essential to building confidence in Nigeria’s livestock products in an increasingly competitive global market.
He said the training was designed to equip participants with the technical knowledge, practical skills and standardized tools required to conduct objective, consistent and evidence-based assessments across livestock value chains.
According to him, quality assurance assessors play a critical role in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while promoting continuous improvement among livestock producers and processors, thereby enhancing consumer confidence, expanding market access and boosting productivity.
Dr. Abubakar urged participants to uphold professionalism, impartiality, integrity and confidentiality, describing the values as fundamental to building a credible national quality assurance system.
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Also speaking, the Director of Veterinary and Livestock Services, Kaduna State, Pakachi Zakariya, described the initiative as timely, noting that it would address persistent challenges related to quality control, food safety and regulatory compliance within the livestock industry.
He expressed concern over unhygienic processing and transportation practices affecting livestock and dairy products in parts of the country, stressing that stronger quality assurance systems are necessary to protect public health and improve consumer confidence.
Zakariya added that ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s livestock sector would only achieve their objectives if backed by an effective regulatory and quality assurance framework capable of supporting productivity, food safety and expanded market access.
In his remarks, a representative of the Kaduna State L-PRES Project, Sani Bello, highlighted the importance of quality assurance in reducing post-production losses, improving productivity and increasing the competitiveness of Nigerian livestock products in regional and international markets.
The training featured technical sessions on the Ministry’s Quality Assurance and Certification framework, livestock value chains, processing and marketing of animal products, risk-based inspection, hazard analysis, record-keeping, reporting and traceability systems.
Participants also undertook field visits to a poultry facility, received practical training on laboratory testing protocols and regulatory frameworks, and carried out quality assurance assessments.
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During the field exercise, they identified potential risks within the production system and provided evidence-based recommendations to improve compliance with quality and food safety standards.