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Tinubu Govt Announces Creation Of “Trillion-naira” Ministry

Published

5 months ago

Jul 9, 2024.

In a bid to bring an end to the longstanding clashes between herders and farmers in the country, President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

Eko Hot Blog reports that this development was announced on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the State House in Abuja.

For years, Nigeria has been plagued by conflicts between farmers and herders, causing widespread instability in farming activities.

However, President Tinubu believes this new ministry will be the key to resolving these issues once and for all.

“Who says the solution is far? I say, ‘No, the solution is here.’ Majority of you have great experience and you want Nigeria to prosper,” he said.

“To enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming, we have seen the solution and opportunity for this adversity that has plagued us over the years and I believe the prosperity is here in our hands.”

File image of Fulani Pastoralists Herding

With the move, the President says Nigeria can now look forward to “maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farm to market thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a stable supply”.

FG Fully Prepared To Cover The Cost Of Acquiring Lands – Tinubu

Following the approval, Tinubu said the Federal Government is fully prepared to cover the cost of acquiring lands to ensure the peaceful co-existence of pastoralists and farmers.

While the President will chair the committee on livestock reforms, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, is will serve as a co-chairman.

The committee is expected to propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.

The President’s announcement comes 10 months after he approved the establishment of the presidential committee to address herders and farmers’ clashes and bolster livestock and dairy industries.

He set up the committee after receiving a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.

The committee, chaired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, gave President Tinubu 21 recommendations, including creating a Ministry of Livestock Resources.

“Livestock is a Trillion-naira Industry” – Miyetti Allah Says, Applauds Tinubu

Reacting to the development, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has sent a note of appreciation to President Bola Tinubu over the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development.

MACBAN said the Ministry of Livestock would unleash the potential of the trillion-naira livestock industry.

The association said Tinubu has brought to reality what it had been trying to actualize for several years.

“With this development, MACBAN believes, the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renew Hope Agenda.

“The promise made by President Tinubu, to raise the productive capacity of Nigerian agriculture to ensure food security is being fulfilled.

“We as an association had for years been agitating tooth and nail to actualize the creation of a stand-alone ministry to modernise livestock production system in line with global best practices,” the statement partly reads

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