To address the long-standing farmers-herders crisis and boost Nigeria’s livestock sector, President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development on Tuesday. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the State House in Abuja.
President Tinubu will chair the newly formed committee, with former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Attahiru Jega serving as Deputy Chairman. The committee is tasked with proposing recommendations to foster peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.
This development comes in response to calls from various stakeholders, including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), which had previously urged the president to establish a dedicated ministry for livestock. MACBAN’s president, Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the entire livestock value chain.