President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development, aimed at providing lasting solutions to the long-standing farmers-herders conflict in Nigeria.
The announcement was made as President Tinubu inaugurated the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday. The committee’s mandate is to develop sector-focused solutions to address this age-old crisis.
On September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended the establishment of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to reduce the decades-long conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders across the nation.
Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after leading the committee in an audience with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa. This recommendation was one of 21 outlined in a document submitted to the President to enhance the Federal Government’s comprehensive response to the persistent violence.
The document detailed proposed solutions, including a reform agenda focused on conflict mitigation and resource management. It suggested the establishment and revitalization of grazing reserves and other land utilization methods. The committee recommended creating a Ministry of Livestock Resources, similar to practices in other West African countries, or alternatively, expanding the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to meet broader industry needs.
Ganduje emphasized the complexity of the challenge, noting the need to address different types of herders: those settled at home, nomadic herdsmen traversing the country, herders from neighboring West African countries, and those who have settled among certain ethnic tribes and become indigenized. He lamented the sector’s low productivity, which has made Nigeria import-dependent for dairy, meat, and other livestock products, draining scarce foreign reserves.
He also highlighted the conflicts resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country. “The report emerged from the urgent need to reform and develop the livestock industry and provide solutions to the long-standing conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria. But to achieve the desired goals, we need a strong institution,” Ganduje explained. “We recommended the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies to ensure various aspects of the recommendations are implemented effectively.”
The committee also recommended a funding source, including inflows from international organizations, the private sector, and the government.
Details will follow as they emerge.
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