The Senate has passed a bill to create a livestock database in the country through the second reading during legislation at the upper chamber on Tuesday.

Channels TV reports that the bill aims to enable the creation of a national livestock bureau for the purpose of livestock identification, cattle rustling control, registration, and livestock disease control.

According to the report, the bill which also seeks to address the persistent farmers/ herders clashes in the country was sponsored by Senator Muhammad Bima Enagi.

In his proposals, he said, “Let me refresh our memory to the fact that this Bill passed through the Eighth Senate but unfortunately, it never went through. I want to say that the coming of this Bill is timely and should be supported.”

The bill also aims towards the sanitization of the livestock industry as Enagi noted that the movement of livestock and their products has increased the spread of diseases, increased the threat to human health, and reduced consumer confidence in animal products.

The Bill which has now been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to report back within four weeks is set to will ensure the traceability of animal products into the country, in order to safeguard the lives of citizens.

The database from the bureau, when established, is expected to serve as a guide for policy formulation by the government and ensure the regulation of participants in the livestock business, Enagi added.