From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly, has passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a framework for livestock farm registration and regulate the production and sale of animal feed and feed ingredients across the state.
The proposed legislation is aimed at improving safety, accountability and overall order within the livestock sector.
Leading the debate during plenary, the House Leader and member representing Ilorin Central Constituency, Oba Abdulkadir Magaji, said the bill is designed to reposition livestock production through structured regulation and the enforcement of professional standards.
He explained that the bill would make registration and licensing mandatory for all livestock farms and animal trade operators, noting that the move would help sanitise the sector.
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Magaji added that the legislation would require livestock operators to engage certified animal scientists, while also setting defined standards for feed production and distribution to guarantee food safety and quality.
The bill also contains provisions prohibiting unhygienic handling of livestock, as well as banning the roaming of animals on streets and public roads. Lawmakers noted that the measure would help reduce road accidents and curb recurring conflicts between farmers and herders.
The proposal received widespread support from lawmakers, including Seun Ogunniyi, Baba Salihu, Alhaji Olakunle Abdulrasaq and Lawal Ayansola, who described it as timely and critical to strengthening agricultural development and ensuring safer food production in the state.
Presiding over the sitting, Speaker of the House, Engineer Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, directed the House Committee on Livestock to conduct further legislative scrutiny of the bill ahead of its next stage.
If passed into law, the legislation is expected to significantly reform livestock management in Kwara State by enforcing regulatory compliance, improving hygiene standards and restricting the movement of animals on public roads and streets.
