President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the establishment of a new Ministry of Livestock Development.
According to The PUNCH, this decision was made during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee’s mission is to devise sector-specific solutions to the persistent farmers-herders conflict.
On September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee proposed that President Tinubu create a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to help alleviate the long-standing, violent disputes between farmers and nomadic cattle herders across the nation.
Former Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, announced this to State House Correspondents after leading the committee to meet the President at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
This recommendation was one of 21 suggestions outlined in a document submitted to the President, aimed at enhancing the Federal Government’s comprehensive approach to the ongoing violence.
The document detailed proposed solutions, including a reform agenda focused 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 utilization.
“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,” it read.
Ganduje highlighted the complexity of the issue, noting that the government’s strategy must address four types of herders; those who are settled, nomadic herdsmen traveling across the country, herders from neighboring West African countries, and those who have integrated into certain ethnic tribes and become indigenized.
He expressed concern over the sector’s low productivity, pointing out that it makes Nigeria dependent on imports, which depletes scarce foreign reserves needed for importing dairy, meat, and other livestock products.
Similarly, Ganduje argued that the conflicts are resulting in 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 leader explained 10 months ago.
He added that the committee also proposed potential funding sources, including contributions from international organizations, the private sector, and the government.
