Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has established the Ministry of Livestock Development. This development coincided with the inauguration of the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The committee’s mandate is to provide sector-focused solutions to address the long-standing farmers-herders crisis.
On September 14, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended the creation of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to reduce the decades-long conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after leading the committee in an audience with the President at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
This recommendation was part of 21 proposals submitted to the President to enhance the Federal Government’s holistic response to the ongoing bloodshed. The document detailed proposed solutions, including a reform agenda focusing on conflict mitigation and resource management.
“This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” the document read.
Ganduje explained the complexity of the challenge, noting that the government’s approach must address the four kinds of herders: those who settle at home, nomadic herdsmen traversing the country, those from neighbouring West African countries, and those who have settled among certain ethnic tribes and become indigenised.
He lamented the sector’s low productivity, which makes Nigeria import-dependent, draining scarce foreign reserves for dairy, meat, and other livestock products.
Similarly, Ganduje argued that the conflicts result in the killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country.
“The Report grew out of the urgent need to reform and develop the livestock industry and to provide solutions to the age-long conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria.
“But to find the solution to achieve the desired goals, you’ll need a strong institution.
“We recommended the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies so that various aspects of the recommendations will have appropriate institutions for implementation,” the APC helmsman explained 10 months ago.
He also noted that the committee recommended a funding source, including inflows from international organisations, the private sector, and the government.
