MTN Nigeria, has recently partnered with Katsina State Government to officially launched the Animal Identification Management Solution (AIMS) at the Runka Game Reserve.
The launch followed extensive consultations and live demonstrations conducted with leaders and members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in key Northern states of Kano, Katsina and Kaduna.
Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari,Governor of Katsina State,Speaking during the launch, said that “The Katsina state government ventured into this project taking into accounts the call by the Federal Government for the diversification of the economy to the agricultural sector.
“Kastina state is privileged to partner with MTN Nigeria in the wake of security challenges occasioned by cattle rustling and other worrisome vices to launch this eye opening innovation.
“I want to inform this gathering that our effort to accommodate this proposal been supported by MTN is consistent with the World Organization for Annual Health.
“I therefore call on my colleagues, the executive governors of states in the North West and East to take clue from our initiative so that together we will prevent the movement of cattle rustling in our respective states.”
The MTN AIMS solution utilizes micro-chips, about the size of a grain of rice, embedded in each animal. These chips use passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, allowing law enforcement agents, veterinarians, owners, sellers, transporters and other relevant parties easily determine the ownership and origins of animals using handheld scanners and a short code.
This has multiple uses including point of sales validation of animal ownership and the identification of owners of lost or stolen pets and livestock, which will discourage cattle rustling. In addition,
it will facilitate disease surveillance and control, as well as livestock identification, which is required for international beef export.
Tobechukwu Okigbo,Corporate Relations Executive MTN Nigeria ,expressed delight at the successful collaboration saying “This partnership further demonstrates MTN’s long term commitment to working with government in identifying and deploying innovative solutions designed to tackle broader societal challenges and improve the way our customers work, play and live.”
With its extensive investment in infrastructure and a focus on innovation, MTN continues to deploy new and flexible services, and transformational solutions, tailor-made to address peculiar business needs.
