President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in a move expected to end the perennial clashes between herders and farmers.
Tinubu approved the creation of the ministry Tuesday when he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu said the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development is to enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, as it is the solution and opportunity for the adversity that has plagued Nigeria’s Livestock farming for years.
The President stated that the Federal Government is fully prepared to cover the cost of acquiring lands to ensure the peaceful co-existence of herders and farmers.
The newly formed Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, chaired by President Tinubu with former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman, will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to develop lasting solutions to the age-old crisis between farmers and herders. The committee aims to ensure the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians while addressing the obstacles to agricultural productivity.
The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development follows the recommendations made by the National Livestock Reforms Committee, led by the APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, which submitted 21 proposals to President Tinubu last September. One of the key recommendations was the establishment of a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to enhance the Federal Government’s holistic response to the lingering cases of bloodshed.
The minister for the new Ministry of Livestock Development is expected to be announced soon, marking a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to resolve the farmer-herder conflicts and unlock the potential of Nigeria’s livestock farming sector.