C’River targets food security, livestock investment with figital data drive
Cross River Government has unveiled plans to establish a comprehensive livestock database and Livestock Management Information System (LMIS) to boost food security, attract investment and improve productivity across the livestock value chain.
Mr Liyel Imoukhuede, Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock Development, disclosed this in Calabar on Friday while congratulating the Cross River State Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) on its national recognition at the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards.
The CRGIA won the Most Improved State GIS/Digital Land Administration Agency Award at the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards.
According to him, the proposed initiative will deploy geospatial technology and digital data systems to map livestock farmers, animal populations, production locations, and available grazing and pasture resources across the state.
He expressed the department’s readiness to collaborate with the CRGIA on the initiative.
Imoukhuede said the planned database would provide reliable information to guide livestock development policies, improve investment planning, and strengthen the delivery of veterinary services.
He explained that accurate data on livestock populations, farmers, and production locations would enable the government to identify investment opportunities, address production gaps, and develop targeted interventions to improve animal production.
According to him, the proposed LMIS would also strengthen animal disease surveillance and biosecurity, helping to improve the management of livestock health risks and support sustainable production.
The initiative, he said, will provide a digital foundation for planning and monitoring livestock programmes while helping farmers and investors make informed decisions based on reliable information.
Imoukhuede said the department was looking forward to leveraging CRGIA’s expertise in geospatial intelligence and digital land administration to develop the proposed system.
He described the collaboration as an opportunity to extend digital innovation into livestock development, noting that accurate data would be essential to building a modern, competitive, and investment-ready livestock sector.
He added that applying geospatial technology to livestock management would help the state improve resource allocation, identify suitable areas for livestock production, and strengthen planning across the sector.
The proposed digital initiative is also expected to support job creation, encourage private-sector participation, and improve the overall efficiency of the livestock value chain.
Imoukhuede said the department’s broader objective was to build a productive and sustainable livestock industry capable of contributing to food availability, economic growth, and improved livelihoods.
He congratulated Archibong and the entire CRGIA team, expressing optimism that collaboration between both agencies would translate digital innovation into practical solutions for livestock farmers, investors, and other stakeholders in Cross River.
The CRGIA Director-General, William Archibong Jr., also received the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer’s Award at the event.
Imoukhuede concluded saying the recognitions demonstrated the agency’s capacity to support data-driven governance and sustainable development under the administration of Gov. Bassey Otu.